Korean Wave 1: Global Cinema Impact

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Questions and Answers

What portion of the domestic market share do Korean films hold?

70%

50%

60% (correct)

40%

How many movie admissions were recorded in South Korea in 2013?

300 million

100 million

150 million

212 million (correct)

Which director is NOT mentioned as a notable figure in South Korean cinema?

Lee Chang-dong (correct)

Bong Joon-ho

Park Chan-wook

Kim Ki-duk

What is the average number of films released yearly in South Korea?

200 Signup and view all the answers

What significant trend occurred in Korean movie exports in 2022?

Highest record in Asian market Signup and view all the answers

Which region accounted for the smallest percentage of Korean movie exports?

Oceania Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to the increased supply of Korean films during the pandemic?

Delayed movie releases Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant accomplishment of the Korean film industry in terms of global competition?

Competing among top film-producing nations Signup and view all the answers

Which movie has been remade in the highest number of languages according to the content?

Miss Granny Signup and view all the answers

What was the original Korean movie that inspired the film produced as 独行月球 in China?

Moon Man Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following films was NOT mentioned as a remake of 'A Hard Day'?

Extraordinary Attorney Woo Signup and view all the answers

Which OTT platform released 'Squid Game' as an original series?

Netflix Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge mentioned regarding the distribution of content?

IP leakage prevention Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about 'Business Proposal' according to the content?

It was sold to Netflix after initial release Signup and view all the answers

Which movie mentioned has the highest box office ranking at No. 2 in China?

Moon Man Signup and view all the answers

What major shift has occurred in the relationship between movies and dramas due to the growth of the OTT market?

Blurred boundaries between movies and dramas Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following genres of Korean movies were prominently featured in 2022 within the OTT market?

Action films Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following Korean movies was released in 2022 and is categorized as a romance film?

Love and Leashes Signup and view all the answers

Which international film festival awarded Best Director to the film 'Next Sohee'?

Fantasia International Film Festival Signup and view all the answers

What impact has the inclusion of OTT content had on international film festivals?

Inclusion of OTT content in awards Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following films was NOT mentioned as an action movie in the 2022 Korean OTT offerings?

Next Sohee Signup and view all the answers

Which film from 2022 tells the story of a unique concept related to love, according to its title?

20th Century Girl Signup and view all the answers

How has the growth of the OTT market influenced Korean film productions?

Increased exploration of diverse genres Signup and view all the answers

In what way did Korean films perform at international film festivals in 2022?

They received multiple awards Signup and view all the answers

Which festival is known for showcasing international documentaries, where a Korean film was recognized?

Hot Docs International Documentary Festival Signup and view all the answers

How has the Internet impacted global cinema?

Viewers can access films from home, bypassing theaters. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the distinctiveness of Korean cinema?

Realism, depictions of violence, and deep melancholy. Signup and view all the answers

Which directors are noted for their contributions to Korean cinema in a post-dictatorship era?

Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional themes are central to Korean films?

Deep psychological struggles and duality of emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to Korean cinema's increasing popularity in the digital age?

Fans creating blogs and mash-ups to promote films. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a typical aspect of psychological realism in Korean cinema?

Having predictable, non-complex characters. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'han' represent in Korean cinema?

A sense of sorrow and deep melancholy. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is crucial for understanding the global appeal of Korean cinema?

Unique cultural context that resonates with diverse audiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of directors emerging in a post-dictatorship era for Korean cinema?

It contributed to creative freedom and stylistic diversity. Signup and view all the answers

Which genre is prominently featured in Korean cinema, reflecting emotional intensity?

Thrillers and crime dramas emphasizing psychological depth. Signup and view all the answers

What narrative technique is commonly used in Korean cinema to enhance psychological realism?

Visual techniques to depict characters' minds Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of melodrama in Korean cinema?

Intense emotions and heart-wrenching themes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a trend among new generation Korean directors?

Experimenting with genre conventions Signup and view all the answers

What localization strategy has Korean cinema adopted for international expansion?

Adapting films for specific markets with local elements Signup and view all the answers

What potential risk does Korean cinema face when adapting films for foreign audiences?

Diluting its national identity Signup and view all the answers

How does the film A Wedding Invitation (2013) exemplify Korean cinema's localization strategy?

It was a major hit in China despite limited success in Korea Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Korean cinema, what aspect of psychological realism is particularly notable in Bong Joon-ho's film Mother (2009)?

It centers around a mother’s psychological journey for justice Signup and view all the answers

What influence has melodrama had on Korean arthouse directors?

They use its conventions to create realism with understated emotions Signup and view all the answers

What is a common theme found in Korean melodramas that has shaped cultural identity?

Intense emotional and heart-wrenching themes Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is Korean cinema using to engage specifically with the Chinese market?

Creating Chinese-language films with local actors Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Week 10: Korean Wave 1

Korean cinema has achieved global acclaim with directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho.
Domestic Korean films hold a 60% market share, making Korea one of the largest non-Hollywood box office markets globally.
In 2013, Korean movie admissions reached 212 million, resulting in the highest per capita movie-going rate globally.
Despite a small population of 48 million, South Korea produces around 200 film titles annually, competing with top global film-producing nations.

2. Korean Movie Hallyu

Korean movie exports reached a record high in 2022 in the Asian movie market, traditionally led by Japan.
Increased supply of delayed movies and rising K-movie brand value contributed to this record.
2018: Total sum of 41,607,247 USD, Sum of Contract 37,436,403 USD, Local increase 2.2%
2019: Total sum of 37,877,316 USD, Sum of Contract 36,276,567 USD, Local decrease -9.0%
2020: Total sum of 54,156,980 USD, Sum of Contract 51,290,400 USD, Local increase 43%
2021: Total sum of 43,033,018 USD, Sum of Contract 69,927,595 USD, Local decrease -20.5%
2022: Total sum of 71,440,380 USD, Sum of Contract 69,927,595 USD, Local increase 66.0%
Average Price: 2018 - 62,084 USD, 2019 - 63,200 USD, 2022 - 90,113 USD
Number of Movies: 2018 - 603, 2020 - 975, 2022 - 776

3. Global Influence on Korean Movies

Korean directors explore themes in post-war poverty and industrialization, their works resonating with post-war European art cinema styles, similar to Italian Neorealism and the French Nouvelle Vague.
Korean Cinema aligns with "Third Cinema" by critiquing neoliberal capitalism and Hollywood dominance.
Directors like Im Kwon-Taek emphasizing traditional Korean themes exemplify Korean cinema as a form of cultural resistance.
Korean cinema resists and imitates Hollywood, often outperforming it locally.
Its ability to attract Hollywood interest for remakes shows its dual influence and adaptability.

4. The Transformation of Cinema in the Digital Era

The rise of digital platforms like Google, YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon has reshaped cinema, relegating secondary platforms like TV, cable, and DVDs to a secondary role.
Consumers are favoring streaming services over cinema tickets, influencing film production, distribution, and consumption.
This new digital infrastructure allows Korean cinema to thrive without conflict with internet technologies.
New theories, like 'post-media aesthetics' and 'afterimages,' have emerged to accommodate new visual experiences, shifting beyond traditional cinephilia..
Digital technology is changing the cinematic experience, reducing reliance on photorealism and photographic credibility.

5. Korean Cinema's Adaptation to Digital Trends

The rise of the internet and social media has transformed global cinema, allowing viewers to access films from home and circumventing traditional theaters.
Consumers have become producers, editing and sharing content on social media.
Unlike other cinemas, Korean cinema has flourished in the digital age.
Fans of Korean cinema create blogs and mash-ups to boost viewership and support local productions, strengthening rather than diminishing its popularity.

6. Unique Features of Korean Movie

Western audiences may find Korean movies like Oldboy intense, but Korean cinema encompasses diverse genres and appeals broadly across Asia with a unique global appeal.
Films distinguish themselves with realism, depictions of violence and tragedy, and a deep melancholy rooted in 'han' (sorrow).
Post-dictatorship era directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho have emerged, free from overpowering influences, allowing unique styles to flourish, shaping Korean cinema's acclaimed diversity.
Showing psychological realism and emotional intensity, films delving deeply into characters' psychological aspects, emotional and psychological realism, focusing on character's internal lives, struggles, motivations, traumas, and fears.
Directors use narrative and visual techniques immerse audiences in characters' minds, making psychological journeys central to the story.
Melodramas are a traditional genre deeply rooted in Korean culture, featuring intense emotions and heart wrenching themes.
Korean filmmakers continue to experiment with genres, supported by audiences.
Korean cinema will likely continue evolving, embracing and redefining genre conventions.

6. Korean Cinema's Globalization Strategy and Challenges

Korean cinema adapts films for specific markets through language and cultural changes to expand internationally.
For instance, "A Wedding Invitation" (a Korean-directed film with Chinese language and actors) became hugely successful in China in spite of limited initial success in Korea.
Korean cinema increasingly targets the Chinese market; films produced in Chinese language, with local actors, and financial products are adapted.
Adapting locally risks diluting cultural identity for foreign audiences.
This creates concerns about losing Korean cultural elements in the process of appealing to the Chinese market.

6. OTT Market and Korean Movies

The blurring of boundaries between movies and dramas, with integration to OTT.
The inclusion of OTT contents in international film festivals and awards.
Korean movies in the OTT market are strongly represented by different genre films, such as Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, Carter, Seoul Vibe, The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, Love and Leashes, 20th Century Girl.

7. Korean Movies in International Film Festivals

Award-winning Korean movies in international film festivals in 2022 like Berlin Film Festival, Cannes International Film Festival, and Sundance Film Festival.

8. Remake and IP Export of K-Movies

A Hard Day as a remake based on Korean webtoon adapted in France, Philippines, and Japan.
Miss Granny, the first movie produced in eight languages (China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc) was remade in several countries.
Moon Man, a movie based on a Korean webtoon, was a box office hit in China.

1. Korean TV Show

Global OTT (Over-the-top media service): TV shows produced in the U.S. for global distribution, contrasting with locally-produced globally distributed shows like Squid Game ,Hell Bound,All of Us are Dead, Casino, and Pachinko (based on a novel by a Korean American and produced by an American company; features Korean actors).
Variations in distribution: Challenges to prevent content IP leakage, such as the release of the web novel "Business Proposal" on a Korean OTT platform beforehand.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo on Netflix, based on a webtoon (intellectual property) by a Korean independent company.
Reborn Rich, releasing in Rakuten Viki, sold by an Asian OTT platform, VIU, to other platforms.

2. Korean TV Show Remake

The Masked Singer has been remade in 27 countries and exported to 54 countries.

3. What's the Secret Behind the K-Drama Wave?

K-dramas resonate globally due to high-quality storytelling and universal themes like inequality, power dynamics, and human resilience, and include shows like Squid Game and Parasite.
K-dramas often portray stories from a female perspective, which has drawn international female audiences, contrasting with Hollywood's typical male-centric approach.
K-dramas emphasize visual aesthetics with meticulous attention to costume and set design.
Streaming platforms like Netflix boost production quality further.

3. Challenges of K-Drama

Netflix plays a major role in promoting K-dramas internationally, funding productions and ensuring global access.
The industry faces the rising production cost, reliance on foreign investments, and pressure to feature diverse and inclusive narratives.
Concerns that over dependence on foreign audiences may dilute unique cultural identity.
K-dramas must address issues like inclusivity and mental health in the entertainment industry and better represent social minorities.

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Description

Explore the rise of Korean cinema in the global market, highlighting influential directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho. This quiz covers statistics on box office performance, domestic market shares, and the surge in Korean movie exports, particularly their increasing international popularity since 2018.