'Avengers' to be partially shot in S. Korea

The sequel of the 2012 Hollywood blockbuster "The Avengers" will be partly filmed in South Korea where the first installment made a big hit, its studio announced.

Major scenes of the superhero sequel titled "Avengers: Age of Ultron" will be shot in the South Korean capital in addition to other international locations, including Johannesburg, South Africa; Aosta Valley, Italy; and London, the Burbank, Calif.-based Marvel Studios said Tuesday.

This will benefit the local film industry in South Korea by creating jobs for local extras, crew and vendors, it added.

"South Korea is the perfect location for a movie of this magnitude because it features cutting-edge technology, beautiful landscapes and spectacular architecture," Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios and producer of the film, was quoted as saying in a news article posted on the studio's website.

"The Avengers" drew an audience of more than 7 million when it was shown in South Korea in 2012.

Directed by Joss Whedon of "The Avengers," the new installment returns its iconic cast, including Robert Downey Jr. Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson.

The sequel is set for release in the United States on May 1, 2015 and in South Korea a month later. (Yonhap)