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Korea''s new wave: does the phenomenal success of South Korea''s highly protected film industry offer timely lessons for Australia?

Article Excerpt
In January 2004, around 5 million Seoulites went to the movies, almost half of this modern metropolis's population. By any standards that is pretty impressive. More striking is the fact that 3.24 million of them paid to watch Korean movies. Korea is showing in the best way possible that there is an alternative to American blockbusters dominating a country's local market.

In March, Korean films accounted for 70 per cent of the market share in South Korea, the highest domestic market share of any country in the world outside the US. The Korean movie industry has overtaken Japan and Hong Kong to become the leader in Asia. Yet, a decade ago in Korea, Korean movies were regarded as cheap trash. Directors in Tokyo and the Special Economic Zone could learn a lesson or two from this South Korean phenomenon. One thing certain is that there is no shortage of Korean movies for them to watch as the 'Korean Wave' spreads all over Asia.

What is plain for all to see is that the movies have simply improved. Better, more diverse and creative films have been released. As...

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