IU Concert: The Golden Hour (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – As the number of moviegoers remains below pre-COVID-19 levels, South Korea’s three major multiplex cinemas are exploring ways to survive through alternative content. They have been featuring live concerts by famous K-pop singers, broadcasting sports games, and embracing pure arts such as classical and fine arts.
For example, CJ CGV is putting significant effort into hosting K-pop singers. Recently, it showcased the ‘IU Concert: The Golden Hour,’ a movie version of IU’s 15th anniversary concert.
This film, released on September 13, premiered in a special IMAX theater, marking the first live concert to do so. It began as the top movie in ticket bookings and eventually secured the third spot in the overall box office ranking, with an estimated cumulative audience of about 70,000.
Prior to this, CGV exclusively premiered ‘I’m Hero the Final,’ a live concert film featuring Lim Young-woong, a prominent figure in South Korea’s trot scene, in March.
This production consistently ranked between the third and fourth positions at the box office, ultimately attracting an estimated 250,000 spectators. Remarkably, it secured the 20th largest cumulative audience among Korean films released this year, a notable achievement for live concert films.
Lotte Cinema recently offered live broadcasting of the EPL (English Premier League) rivalry match between Tottenham and Arsenal. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The trend of showcasing soccer, tennis, and e-sports games in theaters is also on the rise. Lotte Cinema recently offered live broadcasting of the EPL (English Premier League) rivalry match between Tottenham and Arsenal. This match attracted significant public attention, being the first North London Derby since Son Heung-min was appointed as the captain of Tottenham.
Megabox is venturing into pure arts as well. Notably, the theater chain has been inviting professionals to give lectures on Western arts and culture. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Megabox is venturing into pure arts as well. Notably, the theater chain has been inviting professionals to give lectures on Western arts and culture. These programs cover a wide array of topics, from ancient Egyptian culture to art history, including renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt, and Picasso.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
