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Tom Cruise woos South Korean moviegoers in Seoul

Cruise’s visit to Asia’s fourth-largest economy was his seventh, a record for a Hollywood celebrity.

By Elizabeth Shim
Actor Tom Cruise is greeted by eager fans as he attends the premiere of film "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. The 53-year-old actor has received a warm welcome in South Korea. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
1 of 7 | Actor Tom Cruise is greeted by eager fans as he attends the premiere of film "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. The 53-year-old actor has received a warm welcome in South Korea. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- Tom Cruise promoted his latest movie, Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation, on Thursday in a different kind of nation: South Korea, the second-largest market for some top Hollywood movies after North America.

Cruise's visit to Asia's fourth-largest economy was his seventh, a record for a Hollywood celebrity, South Korean newspaper Donga Ilbo reported.

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In previous visits, he traveled to Seoul in 2011 to promote Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, then again in 2013 to promote Jack Reacher.

That year, Cruise was honored in Busan, South Korea, as an honorary citizen of the city, and a video of him uttering phrases in Busan slang went viral in South Korea this week, according to South Korea press.

Cruise struck a friendly chord at a press conference in Seoul on Thursday and said he likes South Korea because there are many movie lovers in the country, South Korean newspaper Herald Business reported.

Cruise said he took on extreme challenges while filming the latest installment of the Mission Impossible franchise, including eight takes of a plane stunt that he said he "regretted," as he worried about possible bird collisions in midair.

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The 53-year-old actor and aviation enthusiast said that he would consider filming a Mission Impossible sequel in South Korea – where Avengers 2 starring Robert Downey Jr. was filmed, and earned $23 million on opening weekend.

Rogue Nation has already reached No. 1 at South Korea's box office, according to Seoul press.

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