Yoo Seung-jun's debut pic set for Feb release

The release date for "Junior Soldiers", former top Korean singer Yoo Seung-jun's big screen debut pic, has been set for the Chinese lunar New Year.

"Soldiers", directed by popular Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan, will open in theaters throughout China on February 14, major Chinese website Sina.com reported.

Yoo will play the role of a prince fighting in battlefields -- a supporting role opposite the movie's stars Chan himself and Taiwanese-American actor Wang Leehom who will play princes of warring states.

Chan also both wrote and produced the 80 billion won epic action flick which spent 20 years in the making. Ding Sheng will helm the film which will be shot in Chinese.

Yoo, 33, was one of Korea's most successful singers until he obtained U.S. citizenship to evade mandatory military service shortly ahead of his term due in 2002. The move sparked outrage amongst Koreans, resulting in his deportation from the country.

Not being able to set foot on Korean soil ever since, he moved to China where he has been pursuing his singing career. "Soliders" will be his first shot at acting.

Reporter : Park So-yoen muse@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr