Now to an interesting story about the upcoming
Netflix movie 'Okja.'
A debate is raging about the film's simultaneous
release in Korea... and how internet streaming
services like Netflix could bring big changes
to the way Korean movies are distributed in
the future.
Park Hee-jun has the story.
"I feel positive about it."
"I think it will push the movie industry forward."
"I think that showing it on Netflix and trying
to show it in the theater is problematic"
The Netflix-funded movie ‘Okja' by Korean
director Bong Joon-ho is due to be released
both theatrically and online on the same date,
on June 28, an unprecedented case for both
the entertainment company and the Korea movie
industry.
The action-adventure film featuring names
like Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal and
which was premiered at the Cannes International
film festival last month, has been highly
anticipated by both critics and fans alike.
But ahead of its release, Korea's three major
movie exhibitors- CJ CGV, Megabox, and Lotte
Cinema- are refusing to screen 'Okja' due
to a three-week hold-back period widely practiced
in the country.
This means, unless Netflix, which specializes
in streaming media and video-on-demand, holds
off its release for three weeks, 93 percent
of theaters in Korea will be shutting out
director Bong's latest work.
"I think big companies are afraid that Netflix
would change the vertical profit structure
that they have established.
Netflix on the other hand, is likely to form
a horizontal structure by simultaneously releasing
the movie."
Although the multiplex theater chains claim
they are at a disadvantage, others believe
the paradigm shift in terms of movie distribution
could benefit the audience.
"The streaming sites, streaming giants like
Netflix or Amazon- they are affecting the
industry as it continues to evolve.
But they serve a purpose.
They are able to meet a demand- people at
home watch films and lots of different film"
Although it's been more than a year that Netflix
was launched in Korea, a country that boasts
one of the fastest Internet infrastructures
in the world making it a favorable environment
for the platform,... the service is not as
widespread as anticipated among Korean users.
And yet, Netflix's unprecedented decision
to release Okja on the same day as theaters
might indicate changing times in Korea's streaming
service industry.
"Some people see Netflix as a threat, but
online movie distribution is already an ongoing
trend.
Whether multiplex theaters and online streaming
services can find a way to settle this controversy
still remains an issue.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News."
