Hong Kong actor Tony Leung feels the love in South Korea as millennials, Gen Z queue for hours to buy his merch at Busan International Film Festival
- Not only was the Infernal Affairs star crowned Asian filmmaker of the year at the festival, but his Q&A session was packed, and his merchandise was snapped up
- South Korean youngsters queued from early morning for his autographed posters. It seems like Leung’s recent Marvel work has earned him a new generation of fans
Legendary Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has been the centre of attention at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held in South Korea’s second-largest city.
Not only was the star of much-loved films like In the Mood for Love (2000), Infernal Affairs (2002) and Lust, Caution (2007) crowned the 2022 Asian Filmmaker of the Year, but fans hung on his every word in a special Q&A at the festival, and his merchandise packs have been selling like hot cakes.
A festival official said the demand for the Tony Leung merchandise pack had taken organisers by surprise. Fans have queued for hours to snap up one of 150 packs put on sale each day of the event, which ends on October 14.
Costing 35,000 won (US$24.50), each pack contains a poster, badge, postcards, letters, photographs of the actor’s previous visits to the festival, and Tony Leung autographs.
An extra 600 sets had to be printed to meet demand, and the pack was being resold online for 100,000 won.
