Movies - Cinema of Korea

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	Movies - Cinema of Korea

Korean cinema is the term used to describe the motion picture industries of North Korea and South Korea. While both countries have relatively robust film industries, only South Korean films have achieved wide international acclaim. Though for decades South Korean films were (with some exceptions) generally considered to be of low quality even by Korean audiences, as of 2005 South Korea is one of only three nations to watch more domestic than imported films in theatres. South Korean films generally differ from Hollywood films by their exploration of social issues in South Korea and their often unpredictable plotting. North Korean films tend to portray Communist or revolutionary themes.

Early period (until 1926)

The earliest showing of a film in Korea is somewhat in question. There are reports of a showing of a film to the public in 1897, and another in 1898 near Namdaemun. A newspaper account, however names a public screening on June 23, 1903, as the first showing of a film.

Dansung-sa, Korea's first movie theater, opened in Seoul in November, 1907 and is still in operation today. Park Sung-pil, the owner of Dansung-sa, financed the first Korean domestic film, Uirijeok Gutu or Loyal Revenge, as well as the first Korean documentary film, Scenes of Kyoungsoung City and showed both at his theater on October 27, 1919. Uirijeok Gutu was used as a kino drama-- a live theatrical production, against the backdrop of film projected on stage.

The production of movies in Korea rapidly increased in volume after the release of the first feature film, Yun Baek-nam's Ulha ui Mengse, in April 1923.

The Golden Era of Silent Films (1926-1935)

The period from 1926 until 1935 is known as "The Golden Era of Silent Films" in Korea. Though a few films of some quality had been produced in the year before its production, the release of Na Woon-gyu's 1926 film, Arirang is generally considered the first nationalistic film, and the film which started the era of high-quality silent film in Korea. With the success of Arirang, Na Un-gyu formed Na Un-gyu Productions with Park Sung-pil.

Early sound era (1935-1945)

Lee Myeong-woo's 1935 Chunhyang-Jeon (춘향전) was Korea's first sound film. Chunhyang was to become Korea's most-filmed story, with Im Kwon-taek's 2000 Pansori version of Chunhyang bringing the number of films based on the story to 14.

Coming as they did during the mid- to late-1930s, sound films in Korea faced much harsher censorship from the occupying forces than did the silent films before them. Film became a propaganda tool for the government of the Japanese occupation, and by 1942 the use of Korean language in film was banned.

Divided Korea -- South Korea

Liberty (1945-1950) and War (1950-1955) eras

With the surrender of Japan in 1945, Korean cinema enjoyed a burst of liberty-- and liberty itself, understandably, became the major theme of films at this time. Choi In-gyu's Hurrah! For Freedom (자유만세), about Korean freedom-fighters during the waning days of the Japanese occupation, is considered the major film of this era.

The rebirth of Korean cinema which seemed to be coming had to wait, however. First the country was divided into North and South, and then civil war was to break out in 1950. Though film production did not completely cease during the war years, only five or six films were produced each year from 1950 to 1953. Much worse for Korea's film legacy, the vast majority of Korea's film history was lost in this devastating war.

Second Golden Age (1955-1973)

The rebirth that almost occurred after 1945 can be said to have truly begun in 1955 with the remake of Chunhyang-jon. 1955 also saw the release of Yangsan do by the renowned director, Kim Ki-young, marking the beginning of a career that would remain productive until his death in 1998. He would go on to direct The Housemaid (하녀) in 1960, which is considered one of the best Korean films ever made.

With Korean cinema for the first time working under something similar to conditions in other countries, both the quality and quantity of film-making increased rapidly. By 1959, 111 films were produced in South Korea within the year.

Breakthrough

Today South Korea is one of the few countries where Hollywood productions do not enjoy a dominant share of the domestic market.

The 1999 film Shiri
about a North Korean spy preparing a coup in Seoul was the first in Korean history to sell more than 2 million tickets in Seoul alone. This helped Shiri to surpass box office hits such as Titanic, The Matrix
and Star Wars. The success of Shiri motivated other Korean films with large budgets for Korean circumstances.

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