‘Haemoo’ director Shim Sung-bo attends LA’s AFI Fest

November 11, 2014
"Haemoo" Director Shim Sung-bo attends the red carpet screening of the film at TCL Chinese Theatre Nov. 9, 2014. (The Korea Times)

“Haemoo” Director Shim Sung-bo attends the red carpet screening of the film at TCL Chinese Theatre Nov. 9, 2014. (The Korea Times)

AFI Fest 2014 welcomed one of South Korea’s biggest hits of the year with open arms Sunday as “Haemoo” director Shim Sung-bo attended the red carpet screening of his directorial debut.

“I don’t know if this is reality or a dream, seeing my film being screened in Hollywood,” Shim said outside TCL Chinese Theatre.

Shim said he felt like he had arrived in Korea upon arriving in the city because of the large Korean American population. He hopes they will embrace the film.

“Haemoo,” produced by fellow director Bong Joon-ho, is the second screenplay collaboration by Bong and Shim after critically acclaimed thriller “Memories of Murder” in 2003.

The film follows the struggles of a fishing boat crew and a group of smuggled Chinese illegal immigrants as they fight the dangerous seas on their journey.

Starring heavyweight actor Kim Yoon-seok and Park Yoo-chun, the flick was one of Korea’s most successful this year.

“Haemoo” will screen again at the Chinese Theatre Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. AFI Fest also invited two other Korean films, “Alive” and “A Hard Day,” to this year’s festivities.