Theater Attendance Hits Lowest in 16 Years... Industry Faces Collapse Crisis

Only Three Films Drew Over 10,000 Viewers... Box Office Rankings Meaningless
No Films Exceeded 6% Seat Sales Rate Due to COVID-19 Spread

On the 3rd, as concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection grow, a movie theater in Gangnam-gu, Seoul is quieter than usual. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The Korean film industry is staggering due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). According to the Korea Film Council's integrated box office computer network on the 25th, the number of moviegoers who visited theaters the previous day was 74,762. This is the lowest since May 31, 2004, when there were 67,973 visitors. It slipped below the 100,000 mark for the second time since 2010. The previous day of box office failure was April 5, 2016 (94,906 visitors).

The box office rankings have become meaningless. Only three films attracted more than 10,000 viewers: Jipuragi-rado Japgo Sipeun Jimseungdeul (Beasts Clawing at Straws) (22,687 viewers), 1917 (19,372 viewers), and Jeongjikhan Hupo (Honest Candidate) (13,515 viewers). Jageun Assideul (Little Women) (8,803 viewers), Keullojet (Closet) (4,019 viewers), Gisaengchung (Parasite) (1,543 viewers), and Hi, Jexi (1,344 viewers) all failed to attract audiences. Jojo Rabbit (925 viewers), Super Sonic (431 viewers), and Namsan-ui Bujangdeul (The Man Standing Next) (371 viewers) did not even reach 1,000 viewers.

This is the aftermath of the COVID-19 spread. As confirmed cases surged nationwide, including in Daegu, visits to theaters have sharply declined. On this day, the only film that secured more than 1,000 seats and exceeded a sales rate of 5% was Keullojet (5.5%). Jipuragi-rado Japgo Sipeun Jimseungdeul recorded 3.6%, 1917 3.5%, and Jeongjikhan Hupo 3.1%. Hi, Jexi (2.9%), Super Sonic (2.8%), and Sean the Sheep the Movie: Kkoma Oegyein Rulla! (Shaun the Sheep the Movie: Farmageddon) (2.1%) all failed to surpass the 3% threshold.