The Movie Industry Crisis Recovery Alliance (abbreviated Movie Alliance) has initiated discussions on policies for the 'K-Movie' revival.
On the 27th, the Movie Alliance and the K-Cultural Power Commission jointly held a policy meeting to discuss policy measures for the revival of K-Movies. The meeting included representatives from a total of 22 organizations, encompassing major groups in the film industry, to discuss issues related to the film industry and propose policies. At this meeting, the Movie Alliance delivered a policy proposal document to the Democratic Party of Korea Central Election Countermeasures Committee, consisting of five key policy tasks and twelve execution plans for the revival of K-Movies.
Among the speakers from the Movie Alliance during this meeting were Deputy Director Park Kwan-su (Korean Film Producers Association PGK), Representative Lee Hwa-bae (Lee Hwa-bae Company, distributor), Deputy Minister Shin Han-sik (Korea Film Industry Association), Chairperson Mo Eun-young (Seoul Independent Film Festival), and Director Oh Jeong-min (film 'Jangson'), who are experts representing various fields of the K-Movie ecosystem. Additionally, over 30 filmmakers attended, including Lee Dong-ha, representative of the Korean Film Producers Association PGK and co-representative of the Movie Alliance, Chairman Baek Jae-ho of the Korean Independent Film Association, and Representative Kim Sun-a of the Women Filmmakers Group.
In attendance from the Democratic Party of Korea K-Cultural Power Commission were Senior Vice Chairperson Lee Woo-jong, co-chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea Cultural Arts Special Committee, and Congressman Kim Jun-hyuk, who is a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing the Suwon district in Gyeonggi Province, among others, listening attentively to the filmmakers' policy proposals.
Attendees at the Movie Alliance emphasized the need to establish policies to regain the prowess of K-Movies that swept the global film industry and to ensure competitiveness in the changing global media environment.
In particular, Director Oh Jeong-min of the acclaimed film 'Jangson,' which dominated various film festivals for its exceptional quality, noted, "If it weren't for the Korea Film Council's public funding, 'Jangson' could not have been made. Despite having an audience of 30,000 under difficult conditions, there were only 60 screens, and ultimately, it has not yet turned a profit." At the same time, she expressed, "However, I would say I am a lucky case. The independent film ecosystem is in such a barren situation that we need a system that guarantees at least minimal screenings."
The policy proposal document delivered by the Movie Alliance to the Democratic Party of Korea Central Election Countermeasures Committee encompasses the strategic protection and cultivation of 'K-Movies', which is a core foundation of K-Culture, and a plan to strengthen K-Movie capabilities through a 10% audience share for independent and art films.
In 2019, marking the 100th anniversary of Korean cinema, 'Parasite' won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and swept four categories, including Best Picture at the U.S. Academy Awards, raising K-Movie's status globally. However, the Korean film industry is currently in a severely depressed state, with the number of theatergoers nearly halving compared to that time.
In fact, comparing the average total audience numbers from 2017 to 2019 (220.98 million) with 2024, the total audience is expected to remain at 55.7% (123.13 million).
The proposal analyzes that the primary cause of this serious industry crisis is the prolonged existence of an unfair environment, leading to the disappearance of diversity in Korean cinema, and suggests specific policy measures to create a fair and diverse film ecosystem by ▶ expanding the film development fund through legal distribution of lottery funds and exempting value-added tax on theater tickets, ▶ moving away from the concentration on blockbuster films and expanding production-centered medium-budget films, and ▶ solving the issue of screen monopolization and normalizing holdbacks.
Additionally, it proposes the need for policy transitions centered on audiences, including ▶ expanding infrastructure for screening and viewing independent films and introducing a direct support system for audiences, ▶ establishing an impact film fund and building an integrated support system, ▶ formulating policies linked to regional development strategies and strengthening private collaboration, and ▶ enhancing global localization support projects, creating international brands, and strengthening international competitiveness, with the aim of increasing the audience share of Korean independent and art films from the current 1% level to 10%, enhancing accessibility to theaters and expanding cultural enjoyment rights.
Chairperson Lee Woo-jong of the K-Cultural Power Commission expressed agreement with the attendees' statements, stating, "A catalyst is needed for the revitalization of the film industry." He also concurred that "reform of governance and improvement of the legal system are necessary."
In response, Congressman Kim Jun-hyuk said, "I will closely examine the securing of the film development fund along with an urgent supplementary budget."
The Movie Alliance plans to continue efforts to unify the will of the film industry and convey it to the new government for the revival of the film industry.
[Photo] Provided by the Movie Alliance.
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