This is an AI translated post.
K-content _ The Change of Content (Film)
- Writing language: Korean
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Base country: South Korea
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- Entertainment
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Summarized by durumis AI
- In the 1990s, Korean films were less popular than Hollywood films. However, the success of "Shiri" in 1997 and the opening of CGV, a multiplex cinema, in 1998, sparked rapid growth in the Korean film industry.
- The "Screen Quota Defense Rally" in 1998, where filmmakers marched in the streets to protect the screen quota system, drew public attention. The government responded by maintaining the system.
- The opening of multiplex theaters and the preservation of the screen quota system played a crucial role in the growth and globalization of the Korean film industry. Today, Korean films are recognized as content of global standing.
Changes in the media environment have led to the globalization of K-content.
In the 1990s, when people asked, "What movie should we go see?", more than 90% of them chose Hollywood movies.
At the time, if you suggested watching a Korean film, you would often be met with, "Who watches Korean films?".
However, now Korean films have tens of films that have attracted over 10 million viewers,
and Korean films are beginning to become globalized, winning awards at film festivals around the world.
Two major media environments contributed to this.
Multiplexes and the screen quota system are the key factors.
Korean films are divided into two periods: before and after the release of the movie "Shiri" in 1997 and the opening of CGV Gangbyeon in 1998.
"Shiri" was almost the first Korean blockbuster film, with an investment of 3.2 billion won, a huge amount at the time.
Did the movie's potential become evident? In 1998, CGV opened a multiplex cinema with 11 theaters in the Techno Mart in Gangbyeon Station.
Following this, Megabox opened in COEX in 2000 with 16 theaters clustered together.
Subsequently, in 2001, films such as "Taegukgi" and "Silmido" attracted over 10 million viewers, marking the beginning of the era of 10 million viewership films.
Multiplexes, with their large number of theaters, contributed to the increased number of releases, and the abundance of theaters and a comfortable viewing experience attracted many fans to movie theaters.
However, it's hard to say that the growth of Korean films was solely due to the increase in theaters.
That factor is the 'screen quota' system.
The United States, in its trade relations with Korea, demanded the abolition of Korea's screen quota system, and the Korean government at the time was willing to comply.
In 1998 and 1999, an unprecedented sight emerged: the 'Screen Quota Defense Rally'.
Thousands of film actors, directors, staff, production companies, and even film students gathered,
they even shaved their heads in a display of determination and held street marches to spread awareness of the screen quota system.
Photo from that time
Especially, when hundreds of top stars came together for a street march, it caught the attention of the entire nation,
and under the influence of the stars, the government ultimately decided to maintain the screen quota system,
and the United States had no choice but to accept it.
Moreover, the love of movies by the late President Kim Dae-jung, who was elected president in 1998, played a significant role.
The preservation of the screen quota system and the opening of multiplexes were undoubtedly decisive factors in the development of Korean cinema into an industry today,
and Korean films becoming the most beloved movies worldwide.
