‘The Berlin File’ hits 5 million mark

A scene from director Ryu Seung-wan’s blockbuster “The Berlin File.” (CJ Entertainment)

Celebrated writer-director Ryu Seung-wan’s latest blockbuster “The Berlin File” topped 5 million viewers in just 14 days, official data showed Tuesday.

Starring Ha Jeong-woo, Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun), and Ryu Seung-beom, the spy thriller tells the story of a North Korean agent (played by Ha) in Berlin who is betrayed by his home country when a clandestine arms deal goes awry and is exposed. He tries to escape the German city with his wife (played by Jun), who works as a German-Korean translator at the North Korean embassy and is pregnant with his second child.

The 10.8 billion won film’s box office performance outdoes last year’s hits “Gwanghae: The Man Who Became the King,” which broke the 5 million mark in 18 days, and “The Werewolf Boy,” which did the same in 19 days, according to the state-run Korea Film Council.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)