Neighborhood Customized Cinema Arirang Cine Center's Reverse Trend Draws Attention

Seongbuk-gu's Arirang Cine Center, the Nation's First Public Cinema, Wins Residents' Hearts... Opened in 2004, Offers Comfortable Facilities and Affordable Prices Ideal for Family Audiences

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Arirang Cine Center (82 Arirang-ro, Seongbuk-gu), the nation’s first public movie theater, is receiving abundant love from residents through its region-tailored programs.

Arirang Cine Center was established in 2004 as the nation’s first public movie theater to promote and commemorate Seongbuk-gu, a historic area known as the filming location of Chunsa Na Woon-gyu’s nationalist film "Arirang."

Located within the local living areas of Dongsomun-dong, Donam-dong, and Jeongneung-dong, it boasts excellent accessibility. Unlike general movie theaters currently experiencing stagnation, it is seeing a reverse trend of increasing audiences thanks to its comfortable facilities suitable for family viewers and reasonable prices.

The most notable program is the specialized operation of an independent film theater. Among the three theaters, one is dedicated to screening low-budget and diverse independent films rarely seen in general theaters, accommodating the varied demands of local residents and serving as an incubator to enhance the competitiveness of the local video culture.

Additionally, programs such as SAC on Screen, which screens excellent performance content from the Seoul Arts Center on the big screen; Moms’ Day, creating an environment where parents can comfortably watch movies with their children; free regular screenings promoting public interest like the Indie Seoul independent film public screening; and the Joseon Royal Tombs Historical Film Festival, where various age groups enjoy classic and art films together, are all popular programs that attract viewers even from outside the region.

Through these region-tailored programs, the number of viewers has increased by more than 43% as of 2019 since 2015, a reverse trend compared to the stagnation in the domestic film industry market.

An official from Arirang Cine Center stated, “Located within a local living area rather than a metropolitan center, the theater is not just a place visited on special occasions but actively leverages the advantage of being part of citizens’ daily lives. Efforts such as discovering demand-tailored programs, attracting group viewings, and creating communities through SNS have been key factors in increasing the number of moviegoers experiencing the theater.”