Davao del Norte Sports Complex Featured in Korean Film
The modern aquatic facility of the Davao del Norte Sports Complex will be featured in the South Korean film, "No Breathing," which will be shown this year.
"In our film, Davao is very famous in the world because of its swimming club, where our characters will compete," says Sung-Jun Yang head of production and project department of 9ers Entertainment- a film distribution company currently helping out the Korean film in their Davao shoot.
The swimming club scenes were shot in the aquatic facility of the new Davao del Norte Sports Complex located in Tagum City.
The modern aquatic facility features a 10-lane Olympic-sized pool, warm-up pool, bleachers and a clubhouse and is touted as the most modern aquatic center in the region. The 11-hectare Sports Complex was opened February this year. Built at a cost of P248 million it also boasts of tartan tracks, a 5,000-seating capacity grandstand, basketball gym and a modern lighting facility which enables night games.
Meanwhile the film No Breathing is said to be a highly-anticipated South Korean film as it stars popular Korean singer actress Kwon Yuri and equally famous Korean actors Lee Jong-suk and Seo-In-guk. It is said to be Korea's first swimming film as the story revolves around two top national swimmers who fall for the same girl. It is estimated that about three-million people will be watching the film once it is shown in theaters later this year.
Yang said Davao will be the opening scenes of the film which will see the two male leads competing in the swimming club competition.
"The movie will really mention Davao," Yang said adding that Tagum and Davao will be featured for about 15 minutes in the film. The scenes were also filmed in Marco Polo Davao, Pearl Farm Resort, and the Aldevinco Shopping Center.
He said they chose Davao over other locations in the country because it's more quieter without much people crowding the set due to the presence of the film's very popular actors. Yang said they were also impressed with Davao because of its cleanliness and with the hospitality of the people.
The film has 70 crew members and 15 actors for the five-day shoot. Among the popular actors in the Davao shoot were matinee idols Lee Jong-suk and Seo-In-guk, dramatic actor Park Jeong Cheol, and K-Pop star Shin Min Chul.
Meanwhile Art Boncato, Department of Tourism-11 regional director, said Davao being featured in a big South Korean film fits into the strategy of the Department of Tourism in capturing a huge chunk of the growing South Korean travel market, at the same time position itself as an alternative film location for Korea's vibrant film industry. (Rudolf Ian G. Alama/PIA 11)
