Made-in-Korea films have not only flooded Vietnamese television channels, but also Vietnamese cinemas. South Korea ranks second after the US for the number of movies screened at Vietnamese box offices.

Many Korean series have been very popular with Vietnamese audience for over a decade. Some wondered if Korean films could compete with Hollywood or even Vietnamese movies at cinemas. Statistics show that one Korean film is introduced at box offices each month, higher than Vietnamese films and only second to American films with 6-7 films/month. Korean films have also surpassed Hong Kong movies in Vietnam. 

The sole importer of Korean films is Lotte, which built its own cinema in HCM City to introduce Korean films in September 2009. 

Son Tae Young, director of Lotte Cinema, observed that Lotte has screened six movies since September and noted that Vietnamese audiences prefer action and comedy. “Korean movies are in a more disadvantageous position than American movies, but we still bring them to Vietnam because this is a potential market that is close to South Korea geographically, socially and in terms of audience tastes,” he explained. 

Son Tae Young went on to note that the Korean government supports the marketing of Korean culture to the world, but their government finances traditional programs, not popular entertainment. It means that other Korean firms can join this market in the future. 

For Vietnam, Vietnamese movies will only go abroad someday far in the future. Now the country produces only around 10 films a year, mainly comedies for Vietnamese audiences at Tet.

Source: VietnamNet