Actress Lee Yeon-hee transforms into a mysterious, elegant geisha in a new comedy flick “Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island,” a sequel to the 2011 box office hit “Detective K: Secret of the Virtuous Widow,” both directed by Kim Seok-yoon.“I studied a lot to make the right gestures while wearing a kimono,” said Lee, who admitted that it is her first time wearing one. “I focused on getting the right posture first, and then the acting came naturally,” the 27-year-old starlet said at a news conference in Seoul on Monday.

Lee, known for her past roles in TV drama “Miss Korea,” “Gu Family Book” and her screen debut film “A Millionaire’s First Love,” plays Hisako in the film, along with the original casts Kim Myung-min and Oh Dal-su from the first installment of the series. Set in the 18th century Joseon era, the film follows a genius detective Kim Min, played by Kim, who investigates into a case that involves counterfeit silver ingots and the possibility of child labor exploitation. Kim, a canny detective, partners with his witty assistant Oh to solve the case. The viewers dubbed the pair as the infamous Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. But Kim said their duo is funnier and more lovable. “We go back and forth between being sloppy and smart,” said Kim. “That is why people will laugh at us because we are not perfect.”When asked what was the most significant change that took place since the first installment, Kim and Oh both agreed that they aged a bit, which made some action-heavy scenes hard to shoot. “But we had a great time,” added Oh. “Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island” is slated for a Feb. 11 release. By Ahn Sung-mi ()