In Korea the panda is a symbol of hope, able-bodiedness and freedom. They often grace the minds of children as they drift to sleep, and inspire all others to live, to love, and to perhaps one day become a zookeeper for the sake of proximity to them or something.

Keep in mind none of this applies if the specific panda is still a communist. If it’s a communist panda the people generally consider it an idiot.

But perhaps this panda-love is the reason Kung Fu Panda just shattered Korean box office records. We think the previous record holder was their version of Lonesome Dove, which was similar to the better known 1989 mini-series except their dove actually had quite a few close friends.

Chances are right now that Jack Black is sizing up his suitcase set and considering a move to Korea – we hear that country has even offered him an apartment. It’s above a butcher, and is quite peaceful except on Monday afternoons when the chickens have to die.

His movie Kung Fu Panda just broke records as ‘the fastest moving animated movie in Korean box office history,’ 908,368 people apparently payed several shiny, polished stones to see it in it’s second weekend alone. This lifted it’s total gross to a nice $15.4 million. Sure it made a boat-load elsewhere too, but this is Korea we’re talking about!

Variety has a few more details:

“The pic passed 2 million ticket sales landmark Saturday, its tenth day of release. That is some four days quicker than “Shrek 2,” which in 2004 went on to garner 3.3 million admissions.

“Another green monster also showed impressive performances at No.2 in the Korean chart. “Incredible Hulk” opened on 529 screens and grossed $2.8 million from 455,588 admissions during the weekend. Helmer M. Night Shyamalan’s mystery “The Happening” also debuted at No.3 with a $1.2 million cume from 200,576 admissions during the weekend.”

We’d imagine with tremendous success like this sequel discussions are underway. Might we suggest the incorporation of a Korean water-buffalo as a possible sidekick, a North Korean water-buffalo as a possible nemesis, and perhaps John Belushi as a dead guy that really likes the blues.

We’ve got the script half-written.

Read more on Variety’s Website.