"Restrictions on theater business hours lead to domino collapse in the film industry" As the



quarantine authorities temporarily suspend the 'with Corona' policy and strengthen quarantine measures, movie theater operating hours will be limited from tomorrow (18th) until 10 pm.



In response, a film-related group also issued an emergency statement.



Five film-related organizations (Korean Film Producers Association, Korean Film Directors Association Board of Directors, Film Importers and Distributors Association, Korean Screenwriters Association, and Theater Association) issued an urgent statement and urged the government to maintain the current state with no business hours restrictions. I did.



The industry said, "We strongly request that an exception be recognized in consideration of the specificity of the theater and film industry." "To create a safe viewing environment, theaters have been carrying out quarantine activities far more stringent than the government guidelines, and a relatively safe space against COVID-19. prove that it is.”



They also urged the government to compensate for the damage to the film industry.

These groups said, "The number of domestic viewers, which reached 230 million in 2019, before the pandemic, plummeted to 60 million last year, and is expected to remain at a similar level this year. To the extent that it is not, there was no proper compensation for damage.”


▲ Full text of emergency statement


Meanwhile, with the implementation of the 'With Corona' policy last month, the film industry was revitalized for a while.



This month, Marvel's blockbuster 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', the most anticipated work at the end of this month, attracted 630,000 spectators on the first day of its release, and achieved the highest opening performance among films released in Korea since the outbreak of Corona 19, raising expectations from the film industry. I did. 



However, if theater business hours are restricted due to this quarantine measure, it will be almost impossible to start screenings after 7pm. 



The running time of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', the latest film, is 148 minutes, and the running time of 'The Matrix: Resurrection', which is scheduled to be released next week, is 147 minutes, which is more than 2 hours. 



Even if the movie starts at 7pm, the movie theater has to close at 10pm, so about 7pm is the last screening in the cinema.



In this way, the number of evening screenings is reduced, and the profits of the film industry are bound to decrease.



▲ Late night movie announcement message on the 18th, canceled due to strengthened quarantine measures 


Movies scheduled to be released at the end of this year and early next year are being delayed in a row.



The movie 'Emergency Declaration' starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jeon Do-yeon, which was scheduled to be released in January next year, has been postponed temporarily, and 'Kingmaker', who has even completed a press preview for release on the 29th, said, "We are considering delaying the release date." Interviews with actors such as Lee Seon-gyun and Sol Kyung-gu have been canceled.



A theater industry official said, "I've been struggling for nearly two years, but I'm not sure how much longer I will have to endure. It is questionable whether it is reasonable to limit the operating hours of movie theaters for this reason.”



Meanwhile, the Seoul Theater, which had been in Jongno for 42 years, was closed in July due to poor management, and leading international film festivals such as the Jeonju International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival have been reducing their size for two years due to social distancing. 



This is a 'news pick'.