Screen Quota in Korea
Published on | Source
Korea first introduced the screen quota system in 1966 to protect its motion picture industry. Then it ruled local theaters should show domestic films more than one third of the screening days.
In 1985, when the nation liberalized imports of foreign films, the guideline was set higher to the two-fifths mark, which means that theaters should play Korean films more than 146 days a year.
However, exceptions and leeway allow theaters to reduce the actual guideline to 106 days. When breaking the law, a theater is banned from screening for the equivalent to the number of days of violation.
Korea's screen quota system has been praised as a guardian for the world's cultural diversity as well as the nation's domestic films. However, it is also viewed as one of the biggest stumbling blocks for signing the envisioned free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States.
In 1985, when the nation liberalized imports of foreign films, the guideline was set higher to the two-fifths mark, which means that theaters should play Korean films more than 146 days a year.
However, exceptions and leeway allow theaters to reduce the actual guideline to 106 days. When breaking the law, a theater is banned from screening for the equivalent to the number of days of violation.
Korea's screen quota system has been praised as a guardian for the world's cultural diversity as well as the nation's domestic films. However, it is also viewed as one of the biggest stumbling blocks for signing the envisioned free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States.
Advertisement