Synopsis

At the mysterious Volcano High, martial arts and supernatural abilities are part of everyday school life. Kim Kyung-soo arrives after being expelled from eight schools because he cannot control his extraordinary powers. Hoping simply to graduate, he becomes caught between rival student factions, powerful teachers, and a secret manuscript said to possess immense power.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film's Korean title is "Hwasango," also transliterated as "Whasango." It was released in South Korea in December 2001.

• Volcano High combines martial arts action, fantasy, comedy, and school drama in a deliberately surreal setting that exists outside any clearly defined historical period.

• The school is celebrating its 108th anniversary, although it is portrayed less as an ordinary institution than as a legendary gathering place for martial arts practitioners.

• The Korean theatrical version runs for roughly two hours. International releases were edited into shorter versions, and the Japanese release used a different score and soundtrack.

• For the U.S. market, MTV commissioned a substantially recut English-language version with newly written dialogue and hip-hop performers providing the voices. This version changed the tone and structure of the original film.

• The film was screened at international genre and film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.

• Volcano High ranked ninth among South Korean films at the domestic box office in 2001, recording approximately 1.69 million admissions nationwide.