Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Byung-hun to Leave Handprints in Hollywood

Actors Ahn Sung-ki and Lee Byung-hun will leave their hand and foot prints on the forecourt of Mann's Chinese Theatre on June 23 when they participate in a Korean film festival held in Hollywood, California.

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Until now, Hong Kong director John Woo is the only Asian celebrity to have left his prints there, making the two Koreans the first actors from the region to do so.

Opened in 1927, the theater used to host the Academy Awards. It remains a famous sightseeing spot, with the streets outside featuring the hand and foot prints of some 250 stars and directors including Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Harrison Ford.

The host of the festival, Look East, said that Lee was selected as the first Asian actor to leave his prints there because he has emerged as a rising star in Hollywood due to his role in the "G.I. Joe" series. Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki was recommended by the Korean Film Producers Association.

Look East, founded by Korean-American film producer Martha Chang, said it decided to inaugurate the film festival this year to promote Asian culture and films. Star directors like Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone will attend, it added.

As her former colleague and producer Elli Samaha purchased Mann's Chinese Theater in June last year, Chang reserved the right to take care of Asian actors' hand printing events there for five years from 2012, and selected Ahn and Lee as the first invitees.