This image provided by CJ CGV shows a theater screen utilizing the company’s 4DX technology.
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean film industry, which is already facing significant challenges due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, is facing another hurdle — screen quota system.
South Korea currently has a screen quota system to protect local films from big-budget Hollywood flicks. The system requires theaters to fill 73 days a year of their screening time with domestic films.
Even after two months after its premiere, the demand to watch the American sci-fi film “Dune” on the IMAX theater at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall continues.
Nonetheless, the theater’s screening schedule is fully packed with a Korean romantic comedy movie that do not match well with the primary purpose of the IMAX screen.
Screen quotas are applied individually for each screen rather than comprehensively for all of the screens at a movie theater.
According to the Korea Film Council, the IMAX theater at the CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall has screened domestic movies for 69 days so far this year, and is four days behind to comply with the screen quota obligation.
Against this backdrop, movie theater operators are calling for the need to exempt special screens that are designed to showcase special genres or movies from the application of the screen quota system.
“The primary reason why spectators visit special screens is to watch movies on a spectacular scale or to enjoy their visual splendor,” an industry officials said,
“Special screens, accordingly, should be allowed to showcase the movies that meet their original purposes, aimed at guaranteeing the right of choice for spectators.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
