The number of moviegoers dwindled for the first time in a decade between January and June this year, amid a widespread perception that Korea's film industry is in crisis.
Data by multiplex chain CJ CGV released on Tuesday shows that audiences increased by an average of 31 percent in the first half of every year since 1996. This year, they decreased 9 percent from 69.04 million last year to 62.84 million this year. The lack of real blockbusters was a decisive reason, said CGV.
Unlike last year when five blockbusters such as "Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War" and "Silmido" drew over 3 million moviegoers, only three movies including "Marathon" made the cut this year.
The film industry attributes the drop to the availability of pirated movies online. According to the Korea Video Association, the number of pirated movie files more than doubled to 204,323 last year from 99,292 in 2003. Another reason is the spread of the five-day workweek, which encourages people to turn to other leisure activities or sports.
Experts disagree whether the downward trend will continue. CGV official Lee Sang-jun said it would become clearer after July and August when potential blockbusters are released. However, he said the number of moviegoers has been on the rise overall this year if the two mega-hits that drew a freak 10 million people last year are discounted.
In the first half, Korean movies captured a 55.8 percent share in the market, down 12.3 percentage points from 68.1 percent last year. But the top five box office hits were Korean.
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