Bounty Hunters, a new Chinese film featuring Korean superstar LEE Min-ho in the lead role, made waves during its debut at the Middle Kingdom box office in early July. Opening on July 1st, the film grossed USD 17.3 million throughout its opening weekend, which netted it the second place chart position behind Hollywood sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.

Boasting a budget of KRW 30 billion (USD 26.1 million), Bounty Hunters featured several Chinese and Korean actors and is scheduled to be released in further territories such as England, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. LEE Min-ho and his co-stars took part in an eight-city promotional tour across Mainland China ahead of the film’s release, bolstering its search ranking to first place on both Baidu and Weibo ahead of opening day.

Though he featured in small film roles in Korean films starting around ten years ago, LEE became famous for his work on television, particularly the globally popular action drama City Hunter. Last year he headlined YOO Ha’s period gangster thriller Gangnam Blues, alongside KIM Rae-won.

Bounty Hunters was directed by SHIN Terra, who previously helmed Black House (2007), My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009) and Runway Cop (2012).

Furthering Korea’s presence on the chart was the Korean-Chinese romantic comedy No One’s Life Is Easy, which opened in fifth place with USD 8.32 million over its first four days.