Korean film basics

The Korean film industry regards Righteous Revenge, first screened at the Dansungsa theater in Seoul on October 27, 1919, as the starting point of Korean cinema. It was a kino-drama, a stage play with filmed scenes inserted, and no film footage survives. Some historians hold different views on which work should count as the first.

Korea's Film Day falls on October 27. The film industry marks it every year because Righteous Revenge was first screened on that date in 1919, which is treated as the beginning of Korean cinema. In 2019, events celebrating 100 years of Korean film were held in places such as Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

Chungmuro is a street in Jung-gu, Seoul, where film companies, cinemas and related businesses were once concentrated. Because of that history, the name is still used as shorthand for the Korean film industry as a whole. Today, film companies are spread across many parts of Seoul rather than gathered in one district.

The screen quota is a rule requiring cinemas to show Korean films for a minimum number of days each year. It was introduced in the 1960s, and from July 2006 the required number of days was cut from 146 to 73 per year. Its purpose is to protect the domestic film industry in competition with foreign films.

Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the first Korean film to do so. At the 2020 Academy Awards it won four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. It became the first film not in English to win Best Picture.

Yes. Park Chan-wook's Oldboy won the Grand Prix in 2004, and Jeon Do-yeon won Best Actress for Secret Sunshine in 2007. In 2022, Park Chan-wook won Best Director for Decision to Leave, and Song Kang-ho won Best Actor for Broker. Full award records are available from the festival's official archive.

A ten-million film is a movie whose theatrical attendance in Korea has passed 10 million admissions. Given Korea's population, the phrase signals a huge hit and appears often in news and marketing. Attendance figures are based on the integrated ticketing network operated by the Korean Film Council, which tallies admissions at cinemas nationwide.

Attendance and revenue for films in Korea can be checked on the integrated cinema ticketing network run by the Korean Film Council. Ticket sales from cinemas are collected almost in real time, and daily and cumulative admissions are published. Most box office numbers you see in news reports come from this system.

New films in Korea are often released on Wednesdays. This distribution practice is generally explained as a way to build word of mouth before the weekend, though films may open on other days to match holidays. Check the distributor's announcement or cinema booking pages for exact release dates.

Yes. Most cinemas in Korea assign seats at the time of booking. You choose your seat through an app, website or the box office, then sit in the seat printed on your ticket. For popular films, good seats fill up quickly, so booking ahead is more convenient.

Most live-action foreign films in Korea are screened in their original language with Korean subtitles. Animated films, which draw many children, are often shown in both a Korean-dubbed version and a subtitled version. You can tell which is which from the subtitle or dubbing label on the booking page.

Some cinemas offer special screenings of Korean films with English subtitles. However, not every film or theater provides them, and such screenings are limited in number. Before you go, check the cinema's website or booking page to see whether an English-subtitled showing is available.

Abroad, Korean cinema is widely known for genre films such as crime thrillers, revenge stories, disaster movies and zombie films. A frequently noted trait is mixing comedy, tragedy and social criticism within one work. Quieter films, including romances, family dramas and independent films, are also made steadily.

There was once a sense that film and television actors belonged to different worlds, but today many actors move freely between the two. With more streaming series being made, film directors also frequently direct series. So if you watch Korean films, you will start recognizing many faces from dramas as well.

The Korean Film Archive collects and preserves Korean films and related materials, and it runs the Korean Film Museum and a cinematheque in Sangam-dong, Seoul. Its Korean Movie Database (KMDb) website also lets you look up film information. Check the official guidance for opening hours and how to visit.

Independent films are made outside large commercial investment, usually on smaller budgets, and are mainly shown at independent and art-house cinemas or film festivals. They often serve as a stepping stone for new directors and actors. For venues and schedules, check each cinema's and festival's official information.

The Korean Film Council is a public agency that supports Korea's film industry through production funding, statistics and international promotion. Its headquarters moved from Seoul to Busan in 2013. It also operates the integrated cinema ticketing network that tracks box office attendance nationwide.

During the film, switch your phone off or to silent and keep its screen from lighting up. Avoid kicking the seat in front of you or talking loudly, and if you arrive late, keep low and find your seat quietly. Filming or recording the screen is prohibited.

Popcorn and soft drinks are the most common snacks at Korean cinema counters as well. Many theaters also sell items like butter-grilled dried squid, hot dogs and nachos, depending on the location. Rules on bringing outside food differ by cinema, so check at the box office or on the official website.

Starting with a genre you already enjoy is an easy way to get used to the feel of Korean cinema. Looking at winners from international festivals or Korean film awards is another approach. Before watching, check the age rating and content information to see whether the film suits you.