A new action film by Kang Je Gyu, the director behind theKorean box office smash Tae Guk Gi, isin the works at the newly-formed Korean powerhouse MKB.

The untitled film by Kang, whose $13m Tae Guk Gi was the record grossing film of all time in Koreawith a $65m take, is billed as a high-concept, high quality action film. He iscurrently writing the screenplay with a view to beginning production in autumn2005.

Whereas Tae Guk Giwas sold widely its very local Korean theme limited its performance in some territories.The new picture is expected to be more expensive and much more international inits appeal; MKB is looking less for foreign finance than to bring in overseaspartners who can wield production and casting leverage.

Also on the MKB slate, whose sales arm have taken an officesuite at the AFM, is previously announced Shiri 2, which will move into production a little earlier. The original film,also directed by Kang, was the first modern Korean film to break outinternationally and achieve significant commercial success. Although Kang willnot direct, he will executive produce.

'The North-South Korea conflict is a hot politicaltheme these days and we expect significant international interest,' saidMark Yoon, who heads up international sales for MKB alongside Paul Yi.

MKB has already greenlit eight projects and startedproduction on three of the five it is actively selling at AFM.

Here it is handling The President's Last Bang, a $4.5m mystery drama by Im Sang Soo director of AGood Lawyer's Wife. It is alsoselling Wet Dreams 2, a $2.5msexy comedy that is a sequel to Kang Je Gyu Films' high school comedy. Italso has Hello Good-Bye Little Brother a $2m drama about a troublesome brat who becomes a reformed charterwhen his brother falls ill.