Actor Song Hye-kyo in a scene from "Dark Nuns" / Courtesy of NEW

"Seollal," or the Lunar New Year holiday, has traditionally been a family affair, with many filling movie theaters as they spend time with each other. The film industry is already gearing up for the fierce competition to capture their attention.

This year's holiday season promises a thrilling showdown between three distinct genres — occult, comedy and romance. With major stars such as Song Hye-kyo, Kwon Sang-woo and Doh Kyung-soo, or D.O. of K-pop band EXO, headlining each offering, the anticipation is building for a box office battle.

Song Hye-kyo's occult challenge

The most anticipated release during Seollal is "Dark Nuns," the sequel of director Jang Jae-hyun's "The Priests" (2015), an occult thriller marking Song Hye-kyo's return to the big screen after a 10-year hiatus since "My Brilliant Life" (2014). Jang is also the filmmaker behind the blockbuster "Exhuma" (2024).

While Song recently enjoyed immense popularity through the Netflix series "The Glory," her cinematic projects haven't always topped the box office, with "My Brilliant Life" achieving modest success at around 1.62 million viewers.

It remains to be seen whether Song will establish herself as a dominant force in the film industry with "Dark Nuns," where she will portray a nun trying to save a young boy through an exorcism ritual.

As of Sunday, "Dark Nuns," which will be released on Friday, holds the top spot in presale ticket reservations with 91,548 tickets, according to data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

Its predecessor, "The Priests," garnered significant attention for its unique combination of Catholic exorcism and Korean folklore, attracting over 5.4 million viewers. Although it shares thematic similarities, "Dark Nuns" distinguishes itself by featuring nuns instead of priests performing the exorcism ritual.

Actor Kwon Sang-woo plays Jun, a secret agent-turned-cartoonist in "Hitman 2." Courtesy of BY4M Studio

Kwon Sang-woo returns with comedy flick

The Lunar New Year holiday will also see the release of comedy film "Hitman 2," starring action star Kwon Sang-woo. This action-comedy, is a sequel to the surprise hit "Hitman" (2020), which drew over 2.47 million admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kwon reprises his role as a former secret agent-turned-cartoonist. In the sequel, which will hit theaters on Wednesday, Kwon finds himself embroiled in a chaotic situation when a crime mirrors events from his hit comics.

Filmmaker Choi Won-sub said "Hitman 2" will captivate audiences with action scenes on an even grander scale compared to its previous installment.

"Kwon Sang-woo's comedic action is unparalleled. I can only say it's incredible. He's excellent at adding humorous twists to action scenes. We had a really enjoyable shoot," the director told reporters after a press preview on Wednesday.

Kwon added that "Hitman 2" will offer audiences a significant upgrade in quality compared to the original.

"We've achieved a higher level of production value than the first film," the lead actor said. "The film features private jets, helicopters and high-end vehicles. It feels much grander in scope."

Actors Doh Kyung-soo, left, and Won Jin-a in a scene from "Secret: Untold Melody" / Courtesy of Plus M Entertainment

1st romance film for Doh Kyung-soo

Adding another dimension to the Lunar New Year film offerings is "Secret: Untold Melody," starring Doh Kyung-soo, better known as lead vocal D.O. of K-pop band EXO, in his first-ever romance role. This movie is a remake of the Taiwanese film "Secret" (2007).

In the Korean version, Yoo-joon (Doh) and Jeong-ah (Won Jin-a) unexpectedly cross paths in a university's music room, a place concealing a secret related to time, leading to a fantastical romance. The movie, which will hit theaters on Jan. 28, is expected to introduce a different flavor to the holiday lineup, potentially attracting a wider audience.

With such diverse genres and high-profile stars, the Lunar New Year box office is poised for an exciting and competitive period. KOFIC data showed "Hitman 2" ranked second in the advance ticket sales chart with 39,971, with "Secret: Untold Melody" third at 37,101 tickets.