[News Analysis] Are film tickets in Korea too costly?

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik’s remarks on an interview present lately have sparked debate about whether or not film tickets at South Korean cinemas are certainly costly. Whereas his remark drew combined reactions, the nation’s largest multiplex cinema chain determined to halve its ticket costs for 4 days.

“Film theaters have raised (ticket) costs rather a lot. Please decrease them a bit. For those who all of the sudden increase them like that, I wouldn’t go anyplace both (whilst an actor). Do you suppose individuals will undergo the legwork of shopping for film tickets after streaming a number of motion pictures whereas sitting at dwelling?” the 62-year-old actor mentioned on the favored MBC interview present, “Son Seok-hee’s Questions,” which aired Aug. 17.

Choi later defined his remark that individuals don’t go to cinemas anymore because of “costly ticket costs,” relying as a substitute on streaming platforms to observe movies within the consolation of their very own houses.

It was the primary time a famend actor publicly attributed native cinemas’ low ticket gross sales to their costly ticket costs.

How costly are film tickets in Korea?

In keeping with Korea Movie Council information, the typical worth of a film ticket at a multiplex chain cinema in 2019 was 8,444 gained. Following the pandemic outbreak, the typical annual worth at multiplexes throughout the nation jumped to 10,080 gained in 2023.

As of August this 12 months, the value of a film ticket has now risen as excessive as 15,000 gained for weekend peak screening instances. Tickets for watching 4D or IMAX theaters have climbed to round 20,000 gained every.

Some business insiders argue that the will increase replicate inflation.

“Since the price of dwelling, employees’ wages and lease all went up after the pandemic outbreak, film ticket costs needed to, inevitably, go up,” an official from a big distributor mentioned to The Korea Herald. “Working a cinema requires fixed funding, akin to upgrading the services in addition to customer support.”

In keeping with CGV’s breakdown of the value of a film ticket, the cinema operator takes dwelling 45 p.c of the ticket worth, with the distributor taking dwelling 55 p.c.

Although elevating the ticket worth doesn’t profit solely the cinema operator, small- and mid-sized arts movie distributors mentioned they’ve really not benefited from the value hikes in any respect.

“To be sincere, whether or not to extend the ticket worth relies upon solely on the choice of cinema operators. (Larger costs for film tickets) don’t imply that the distributors get extra revenue,” one other official from a special native distributor instructed The Korea Herald.

“As a result of we distribute motion pictures centered on artwork and indie movies, when ticket costs have been decrease, extra moviegoers would select our motion pictures. I really feel just like the will increase in film ticket costs have raised the entry barrier to having fun with a extra various vary of movies,” he added.

Some individuals level to accessible motion pictures’ high quality as additionally having an influence on the variety of moviegoers.

“As a result of film theaters are nonetheless struggling after the pandemic disruptions – with ticket gross sales nonetheless at 60 p.c of pre-pandemic ranges – I can see why they wished to lift ticket costs all of the sudden. Nonetheless, the fallen variety of moviegoers doesn’t actually should do with ticket costs, however reasonably with the standard of the flicks taking part in on the cinema,” movie critic Kim Hern-sik mentioned in an interview.

“Once you consider choices for cultural actions, the ticket costs for motion pictures are undoubtedly not as a lot in comparison with musicals or performs. I believe it’s extra in regards to the absolute worth of what watching a film means to the viewers,” Kim mentioned.

How a lot are film tickets elsewhere?

In keeping with information on Numbeo, the world’s largest database on the price of dwelling, South Korea’s film tickets are at the moment priced at 15,000 gained ($11.25), rating twenty seventh among the many 96 international locations surveyed.

Topping the record was Switzerland ($23.15), adopted by Denmark ($17.76) and Finland ($16.56). Film ticket costs within the US and Japan have been $14 and $12.31, respectively.

Nonetheless, in comparison with the precise lifestyle in South Korea based mostly on GDP, film tickets right here really price double these within the US.

In the meantime, the nation’s largest multiplex chain, CGV, has slashed film ticket costs by greater than 50 p.c for 4 days this week, beginning Tuesday.

Throughout what it’s calling “Tradition Week,” CGV is promoting tickets for 7,000 gained every for movies screenings between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. at 2D theaters Monday by way of Thursday.

“We determined to increase ‘Tradition Day,’ which we have already got, to reinvigorate sluggish native theaters, regardless of it being the height summer time season, after negotiating with manufacturing companies and distributors,” mentioned a CGV official. “Tradition Day” falls on the final Wednesday of every month and is when many cultural establishments in Korea provide discounted or free admission.

Whereas some business insiders noticed this four-day low cost as a sort of formality, the nation’s affiliation of film business members welcomed the transfer.

“We welcome the choice of CGV and extremely respect its transfer to organize a breakthrough to reinvigorate the native movie business,” mentioned a press release from the affiliation issued Tuesday