Tom cruise to become honorary Busan citizen

Tom Cruise

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is becoming an honorary citizen of Busan, city officials said Tuesday.

The actor, who will be in the southern port city this week to promote action movie “Jack Reacher,” will be awarded a certificate of honorary citizenship by Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday. Female lead Rosamund Pike and director Christopher McQuarrie will also be awarded honorary citizenship.

“The visit of a top star and director will contribute to promoting Busan’s status as the center of Asia for film,” said a city official. “The city has decided to award the honorary citizenship to Cruise in recognition of his contribution to the industry.”

It will be the sixth time for Cruise to come to Korea but the first time he is visiting a city other than Seoul.

Busan has decided to host the promotional event to accept Cruise’s wishes to meet fans outside of the capital.

A large number of foreign celebrities head to the city during the Busan International Film Festival but it is the first time event for a red carpet premiere to be held there.

“Jack Reacher” is the story of a homicide investigator who digs into a case involving a trained military sniper that shot five random victims. It will be released on Jan. 17. <The Korea Times/Kim Bo-eun>