South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) have launched a public-private consultative body to discuss setting a theatrical window for films. A bill now moving through Korea's National Assembly would mandate a six-month window before films can reach streaming platforms. Netflix, Apple TV+, and other streamers would be locked out of new Korean content for half a year after theatrical release.
The consultative committee brings together government officials and industry executives to work through the specifics. Cinema chains have lost ticket sales to streaming, and South Korea's film industry is fighting back with regulatory muscle.
Korean cinema has been a global phenomenon for years. Films like "Parasite," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," and the continued success of K-dramas prove audiences worldwide want Korean storytelling. But that same global appetite—particularly through streaming platforms—has made theatrical releases harder to justify commercially.
If the six-month window passes, it could set a precedent across Asia and influence how other markets protect their theatrical ecosystems. Hollywood and Bollywood are watching.
