Rated movies to reach 2,000 at year-end

The number of movies subject to rating might exceed 2,000 this year. The Korea Media Rating Board held a press conference at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul on Thursday and said, “With the increasing number of movies released, the number of movies rated this year stood at 1,704 as of the end of October, and the number will reach 2,000.”

The number of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and video on demand (VOD) also increased significantly and is likely to reach about 6,500. While foreign content was 319 last year, the figure rose over six-fold to 1,922 as of October this year. The rating agency says that the surge is due to the launch of global video services such as Netflix and growth in adult content exclusive for VOD services.

The rating agency plans to create a new category for children aged seven years or older to the current rating system through the government or legislation until the board chair’s term expires next year. Many pointed out that it is difficult to give a film guideline to children aged 12 or younger as Korean films fall into only three categories -- all ages, 12 or older; and 15 or older.

At BEXCO in Busan on Friday, the agency will host the 2016 International Classification Forum, which introduces each country’s movie classification scheme with the presence of relevant people from the U.K. and Finland as well as Korea.