Light sticks for the film K-Pop Demon Hunters (Image source: CGV Instagram)
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — On Friday evening, October 31, movie theaters across Seoul’s CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall glowed with a sea of colorful light sticks—once a symbol of concert fandom, now a growing part of Korea’s cinema culture.
At a special screening of Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, fans—both adults and children—waved light sticks emblazoned with the names of the fictional idol groups Huntress and Lion Boys. Some even arrived dressed as the characters, donning matching stage costumes or reaper outfits inspired by the movie.
It wasn’t just for music-themed films. The comedy First Ride, starring Kang Ha-neul and Cha Eun-woo, offered audience light sticks in the shape of blue hearts for its “cheering screening,” an unusual move for a mainstream film. Throughout the movie, viewers waved their lights during funny moments and applauded during the credits with the theater illuminated in blue.
A ShoBox representative said the idea came from a university showcase where distributing light sticks generated an enthusiastic response. “We wanted First Ride to feel like a festival for both fans and audiences,” the official said.
Light sticks for the film First Ride (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The trend began with concert films such as BTS’s Yet to Come, IU’s The Golden Hour, and G-Dragon’s In Cinema Weverse Mensch, where fans were allowed to use official concert light sticks during screenings. Using central control systems, theaters recreated the synchronized light shows of live performances.
The phenomenon extended to singer Lim Young-woong’s I’m Hero: The Stadium, which sold out across the country and added extra screenings due to overwhelming demand.
Now, even anime films like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 have adopted the format, organizing cheering screenings where audiences wave light sticks during action scenes. Encouraged by strong turnout, theaters across major Korean cities have added more showings this month.
A large sculpture in the shape of a light stick has been installed at the ‘BTS Festa.’ (Image courtesyof Yonhap)
Industry officials say light-stick screenings are part of a broader shift in cinema toward participation and fandom-driven engagement. “Audiences today want to experience films together, not just watch them,” a CGV spokesperson said. “Sharing excitement in real time with like-minded fans is becoming part of the joy.”
Cultural critic Park Ji-jong added, “The light stick transforms the viewer into an active participant—it turns the theater into a shared stage.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
