“Battleship Island” almost entirely re-created Japan’s Hashima Island in an enormous set located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

The set of “Battleship Island” located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (CJ Entertainment)

The set of “Battleship Island” located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (CJ Entertainment)

The film’s director Ryoo Seung-wan, who visited the island prior to filming, aimed to portray the overwhelming size and ambience of the place, the film’s distributor CJ Entertainment said Tuesday.

The island was a site of forced labor during World War II and abandoned concrete buildings still remain.

The Chuncheon set was created after three months of design and six months of construction, at a 66,000 square-meter site. Two-thirds of the actual concrete buildings on the island were re-created, according to CJ Entertainment. Perilous staircases, cramped living quarters and the inside of mines were all built as accurately as possible according to existing records.

The set of “Battleship Island” located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (CJ Entertainment)

The set of “Battleship Island” located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (CJ Entertainment)

The upcoming historical flick features top stars including Song Joong-ki, So Ji-sub, Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-hyun.

It tells the story of Korean captives attempting to escape after being drafted to Hashima Island by force during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)