The term screen quota (스크린크워타) refers to the support that the South Korean government lends to the domestic film industry by mandating that theaters show domestic films for least 73 days a year. Instituted in 1966, when it was set at 146 days, it was not fully enforced until 1993. The quota has recently generated considerable controversy following free-trade agreement negotiations in which the US demanded the abolition of the system; a number of movie actors and directors took to the streets in protest, seeing the system as vital to their success and that of Korean film in general; in response, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has offered to set up a fund worth $400 million to support local cinema.

Many attribute the explosive growth of Korean cinema since 1998 to the protection offered by the system, while others criticize it for having offered studios shelter to produce low-cost, low-quality films and make money by importing Hollywood blockbusters. It survived a constitutional challenge from theater owners in 1995.

[edit] External links

• (PDF) "Screen Quota System to Ensure Cultural Diversity"
• "Korean Neo-Liberalism and Empire", Z Magazine, July 11, 2006.
• "Protect Korean Cinema", an OhMyNews interview with Gary Neil, president of the International Network for Cultural Diversity
• "Faces of Globalization: Filmmakers in Korea", Global Envision, July 6, 2004.

News articles

• "KOREA: Filmmakers begin sit-in against screen quota cut", AsiaMedia, February 2, 2006.
• "Moviegoers to Pay for Film Industry Support Plan", The Chosun Ilbo, January 27, 2006.
• "Korea to Halve Screen Quota", The Korea Times, January 26, 2006.
• "Opponents Vow 'Fight to the End' on Film Quotas", The Chosun Ilbo, January 26, 2006.
• "Korea Must Choose Between FTA and Screen Quota: US Ambassador", The Chosun Ilbo, November 11 2004.
• "Seoul to Drop Screen Quota", The Korea Times, February 25, 2004.
• "Hail the Powerful Gangster Flicks", The Joongang Daily, December 5, 2003.

Blog posts

• Search results for "screen quota" on The Marmot's Hole.
• "Korea waffling on screen quota", Kaiju Shakedown, September 26, 2005.