Old-time movie theaters disappearing into history

 

A pedestrian walks past the facade of the Seoul Cinema in Seoul, July 4. Yonhap

Hit first by multiplexes, then by the pandemic, old-time movie houses pushed out of business

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Since the coronavirus outbreak, movie theaters, once teeming with cinephiles, have been struggling to stay afloat.

Compared to multiplex operators, times for independent theaters were tougher. Small, independent theaters had been suffering a dramatic fall in audience numbers since the late 1990s when multiplexes run by nationwide theater chains appeared and absorbed movie fans by offering a wider selection of films.

The lingering pandemic has dealt a final blow to the already struggling independent cinemas that have failed to entice audiences back.

Seoul Cinema's recent announcement that it would close its shutters permanently at the end of August after 42 years in business is no surprise at all to those who are familiar with the film industry. Old movie houses have found it tough to hang in there.

"Seoul Cinema, which has been loved as the cultural center of Jongno District for over 40 years, will close permanently on Aug. 31," it said in a statement.

"Hapdong Film, the operator of Seoul Cinema, is preparing for a new era and challenges that lie ahead. We'd like to express our heartfelt thanks to visitors who have supported us for a long time."

During its peak, Seoul Cinema was once one of the three major landmark theaters in Seoul along with the now defunct Dansungsa and Piccadilly Cinema.

Dansungsa, which was built in 1907, suspended operation in 2010; while multiplex cinema CGV has occupied the Piccadilly since 2016.

Movie buffs expressed their sadness and regret following the announcement.

"I still remember going to Seoul Cinema to watch The Bodyguard with my mother when I was 15. It seems hard to believe now, but back then, there was ticket scalping going on," said Koo Hye-in, an officer worker in her 40s.

Movie fans queue to purchase tickets for "Ghost in Love," starring Han Suk-kyu and Kim Hee-sun, at Seoul Cinema in this 1999 file photo. Korea Times file

It was in 1978 when Hapdong Film, a film importer and distributor, acquired Segi Theater that specialized in screening old classics and changed its name to Seoul Cinema before reopening it the following year.

Opened as a single-screen theater, the cinema expanded to three screens ― introducing the country's first multiplex system ― in 1989. Along with several indie theaters in the central districts of Jongro and Chungmuro including Hollywood Silver Cinema and Daehan Cinema, it became one of Seoul's most visited first-run theaters.

Yi Kyung-yull, director general of the Korean Screen Development Association, recalled that Jongno District was the center for domestic film consumption until the 1990s.

"Movie theaters in the Jongno area were a popular destination for Seoul residents. People always had to go downtown to watch movies there because there were no multiplex chains until 1998. Back then, going to the movies was a big treat. As the industry grew bigger, they became an intrinsic part of the movie business," he said.

Movie premiere events were often held at Seoul Cinema and people had to queue to purchase tickets and enter the cinema building.

Seoul Cinema cited financial 토토사이트추천 due to COVID-19 as the main reason for the scheduled closure, but industry officials say that the pandemic-hit theater may have lost some of its old-world charm already in the 2000s.

"The pandemic surely dealt an economic blow to movie theaters, especially small, independent ones, but their profitability had already deteriorated due to multiplex chains run by large conglomerates," Yi said. "However, this was rather a universal phenomenon."

A man looks at a wall filled with old movie posters at Seoul Cinema, July 4. Korea Times file

While big theater chains benefited from a greater choice of films, large auditoriums and high-end surround sound systems, smaller operators began to struggle with a combination of major challenges.

Among the difficulties were a lack of fresh, popular indie films and convenient facilities. The number of visitors fell drastically.

Seoul Cinema underwent a massive renovation in 2017 but still lagged behind in the competition with bigger theater chains, which also evolved over time. Unable to bridge the gap, the movie theater was used as a venue for several film festivals, such as the Mise-en-scene Short Film and Seoul Eco Film festivals.

Choi Nak-yong, the chairman of the Korean Independent Art Cinema Association, urged the government to establish a more supportive infrastructure for the country's small movie theaters.

According to data from the Korean Film Council, the number of moviegoers dived 74 percent year-on-year to a record low of 59.5 million in 2020 due to the pandemic. Cinemas, both big and small, have suffered financially.

Many of the movies that have been released were made available through streaming services. "Space Sweepers" and "Night in Paradise" were exclusively released by global streaming giant Netflix, while others such as "Seobok" and "Midnight" were on local streamer Tving as they were simultaneously screened in theaters.

"We have been protecting independent movie theaters for the past 20 years. We have been doing so because we believe in the artistic value and social impact of cinema. However, boutique cinemas are facing a dire situation. They may go out of business within one to two years without government funding," Choi said.