A promotional poster for Korea’s nationwide movie discount campaign / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Korea will begin distributing 2.25 million movie discount coupons in a push to revive theater attendance and support the local film industry, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday.
Starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, moviegoers will be able to download 6,000 won ($4) discount coupons through the websites and mobile apps of major theater chains including CGV, Lotte Cinema, Megabox and Cine Q, according to the ministry and the Korean Film Council.
The government said the program is part of an extra budget package aimed at stimulating domestic consumption and helping cinemas recover from years of sluggish attendance. The 2.25 million coupons represent half of the 4.5 million discounts secured under the supplementary budget for 2026. The remaining coupons will be distributed in July during the summer peak season.
Each online member account will automatically receive two coupons, which can be applied at checkout on a first-come, first-served basis. Unused coupons will disappear once each theater chain exhausts its allotted supply.
The discounts will also be available at independent and art house cinemas, small local theaters and theaters catering to senior citizens. Participating venues will be listed Wednesday on the Korean Film Council website.
The ministry said the coupons can be combined with existing discounts, including youth, senior, disability and early-morning promotions. On “Culture Day,” held on the second and last Wednesday of each month, some moviegoers could see films for as little as 4,000 won at multiplex chains.
A ministry official said the program was intended to encourage more people to return to theaters this spring and help sustain the recovery of Korea’s film industry.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
