Actor Yoo Seung-ho’s upcoming film “The Magician” has been presold to distributors in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and Turkey at the 2015 American Film Market, signaling a new demand for Korean period films overseas.

The film’s distributor Lotte Entertainment said Tuesday that the 4-minute promotional clip enticed buyers including those from Thailand and the U.S.

American Film Market is an annual eight-day event that takes place in California’s Santa Monica around this time of the year. On average, more than 8,000 people from across 70 nations gather to buy and sell films.

(Lotte Entertainment)

Industry watchers are labeling this overseas sale of “The Magician” as a landmark achievement for Korean period films, as the demand for the genre was relatively scarce in Taiwan and Turkey.

One Turkish buyer was quoted as saying, “The heart-tugging love story and beautiful images appear to hold great potential in targeting both lovers and families.”

“The Magician” is a romantic period film involving a Joseon-era magician and a princess who attempts to defy her royal destiny. Director Kim Dae-seung “The Concubine (2012)” and “Blood Rain (2005)” oversaw the production.

The film had attracted widespread anticipation following its announcement as the first film by actor Yoo Seung-ho since his military discharge in December 2014.

Go Ara plays the princess, while the supporting cast include Gwak Do-won, Jo Yoon-hee, Lee Gyeung-young, Park Chul-min, Son Byung-ho and Jo Dal-hwan.

The film is aiming to release in Korea this December.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

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