Korea mulls quota for screening domestic art films

The government plans to introduce a system for mandating movie theaters to fill part of their screening time with domestic arthouse films.

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC), a government film agency, on Thursday announced the idea as part of its 2016-2018 plan to promote Korean films.

Kim Se-hoon, chief of the council, said in a telephone conversation with the Dong-A Ilbo that the agency will discuss the screen quota system by consulting with the local film industry and examining the current situation in the industry. The KOFIC plans to draw up a detailed implementation plan after conducting basic research and listening to opinions of interested parties.

Big commercial films have been dominating screens at multiplex theaters run by large conglomerates over small, arthouse films. The new system will likely be introduced within the current quota for domestic films. Korea currently has a screen quota system to protect local films from Hollywood flicks. The system, which became effective in July 2006, requires theaters to fill 73 days a year of their screening time with domestic films.

민병선기자 bluedot@donga.com