History of Korean Cinema (1970~1990s)

1970s~1980s

Winter Woman (1977)

 

1970s saw Korean cinema experiencing hardships, but breakthroughs began with films like "Homeland of Stars" by Lee Jang-ho in 1974 and "Winter Woman" by Kim Ho-seon in 1977. However, film production conditions remained challenging, with difficulties in producing ambitious works due to lack of capital and interference from profit-oriented companies. To address this, the government established the Korean Film Promotion Corporation in 1971, providing support such as film production loans, scenario creation funds, and welfare programs for filmmakers.

 

In the early 1980s, the spread of television and the growth of the leisure industry led to a decline in the cinematic mass entertainment function, resulting in a decline in the film industry's vitality. However, after the amendment of the Film Law in 1986, allowing for liberalization of film production, a resurgence began. In 1989, a total of 106 films were produced, marking the highest output in the 1980s. However, the surge in foreign film imports due to direct distribution caused domestic films to struggle at the box office, and audiences increasingly favored foreign films.

 

In 1988, with the screening of the American film "Fatal Attraction," the Korean film industry sensed a crisis. Efforts were made to amend the Film Law and resist direct distribution by UIP, but internal conflicts and greed among some filmmakers complicated matters. Consequently, the audience's response to Korean films was lukewarm, with American films dominating theaters nationwide. Particularly, the release of "Love and Soul" at Seoul Cinema Town as a UIP film warned of a dire situation for the domestic film industry.

 

1990s

General's Son (1990)

The 1990s marked a period of diverse themes and styles in Korean cinema, leaving a significant impression on audiences. Representative works include "The Love of a Silly Man" by director Jang Sun-woo, "The Cuckoo" by Shin Seung-soo, "Oh, Sae-ahm" by Park Chul-soo, "The Road to Cheongsong" by Lee Du-young, "They Also Are Like Us" by Park Kwang-soo, and "Just Because You Are a Woman" by director Kim Yoo-jin. These films tackled various topics such as the lives of ordinary citizens, lost hometowns and humanism, the life of ex-convicts, social turmoil, and the contradictions of a conservative Korean male-dominated society.

 

"General's Son" by director Im Kwon-taek garnered the highest number of audiences in Korean film history, enjoying immense popularity. "Nambugun" by director Jung Ji-young directly confronted the issue of ideological division. "Mayumi" by Shin Sang-ok, the first film made after defecting from North Korea, gained attention but failed to succeed commercially. Additionally, independent productions like "Korean Connection," "Dream," "Songs of Resurrection," and "Eve of Strike" decorated the early 1990s in Korean cinema.

 

These films served as catalysts for the revitalization of Korean cinema, exploring various genres and themes, demonstrating the potential of Korean cinema.