The term "Cinema of Korea" encompasses the motion picture industries of North and South Korea. As with all aspects of Korean life during the past century, the film industry has often been at the mercy of political events, from the late Joseon dynasty to the Korean War to domestic governmental interference. While both countries have relatively robust film industries today, only South Korean films have achieved wide international acclaim. North Korean films tend to portray their communist or revolutionary themes.
Still from Chunhyang-Jeon (Korean: 춘향전) (1923)
Dansungsa (Korean: 단성사) was one of Korea's earliest and most historic movie theaters. It was first established in 1907, during the Korean Empire period, in what is now Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. It was once widely believed to be the oldest movie theater in Korea, but in recent years, that title is now thought to belong to Ae Kwan Theater, which was founded in Incheon in 1895.
The building c. 1937
The building on November 30, 2008, several months after the bankruptcy was announced.
The theater in 1953
A flyer from the theater advertising the screening of the 1953 American film Mogambo.