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Director Bong Joon-Ho raises need for minor film quota system

"The current situation, in which The Host is taking up some 600 of the 1,600 theaters in Korea, is due to Korea's unique circumstances", said Bong Joon-Ho, the film's director. As The Host is occupying 620 theaters and has set a record audience of six million people within the shortest period of time, director Bong recalled his debut film Barking Dogs Never Bite, saying, "Even I am confounded at this huge number of people going to see The Host".

He admitted that since one out of three theaters in Korea is showing The Host, there may be a shortage of theathers where other Korean films can be shown.

"My debut film, Barking Dogs Never Bite, was a flop, with only 200,000 viewers nationwide. The Host has pulled in that number just on the eve of the release day", said Bong. "People say the five million viewers of Memories of Murder is remarkable (editor's note: Bong's biggest hit film before The Host), but that covered about 100 days of showing, and The Host covered only nine days".

Bong continued, "Thus, I feel that Korea's distribution systems, size, and circumstances have changed a lot. Of course, I know that the producers or the distribution company of The Host did not practice unfair play or oppression. But the fact that one film takes up some 600 out of the total 1,600 Korean theaters may show the unique circumstances in which the Korean film industry is situated".

When he was asked as to the possibility of The Host's monopoly on-screen diluting the objectives of the opposition to the reduction of the screen quota system in Korea, the director raised the need for 'a minority quota' system.

"Many of us have argued that a minority quota system is necessary to protect the rights of films for various subjects and preferences", said Bong. "In general, I hope this minority quota system could operate as part of the Screen Quota System in Korea".

The Source : Koreacontent News Team

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