Going to the cinema in Korea

CGV, Mega Box, and Lotte Cinema are the three major movie theaters in Korea, and you will most certainly go to one of them when your favorite film is released. The prices of cinema tickets for these three brands are quite similar, ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 KRW for a regular 2D film. Ticket costs are also affected by film types (e.g., 2D, 4DX, IMAX, and so on) and program hours. In Korea, new popular films are often shown multiple times in a single day, with certain sessions running till 2 a.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions seats and hours may be limited so check in advance, also only some of the rooms allow food inside.

The variety of seating choices available in Korean movie theaters is among the reasons why local and foreign citizens in Korea like them. In addition to normal seats, some movie theaters provide a 'wide box' or 'comfort seat,' which provides a more pleasant and spacious experience. 'Couple seat' is an excellent choice for people who want to unwind on a lovely sofa in a semi-private space, only for both you and your lover, while watching a movie.

Foreign films are frequently available in English in Korea, with Korean subtitles displayed on the screen. However, some movies are occasionally made available in Korean, but this appears to be a rare occurrence that typically happens exclusively with Disney pictures or animated films aimed mostly at youngsters.

In a similar spirit, Korean films are typically shown without English subtitles in their native language. Therefore, you will almost certainly need some degree of Korean language skills to experience a Korean movie in Korean theaters.

When the title of the film contains the word dubbing (더빙), it signifies the film has been dubbed and is accessible in Korean. Dubbing is only done for foreign-language films to make them more accessible in Korean. Sometimes you'll see the word subtitle (자막) added to the title of a film, indicating that it has subtitles in Korean or English.

In Korea, movie tickets are available to buy in person at a theater or online via the internet. A ticket counter with personnel as well as ticket machines with a touchscreen display is available at CGV, Mega Box, and Lotte Cinema. English is an option on these ticket machines.

However, you can buy your tickets in advance online through their websites or applications.

Choose the address of the cinema theatre where you want to see a film. You can find the nearest movie theater by turning on your GPS.

Choose the movie you want to see, and you'll see timeslots and seats that are available.

Payments can mainly be made online using a bank card or other mobile banking services like Kakao Pay.

You will receive an automated message with your ticket information after the transaction has been completed. You can also use the website/app to look for information.

In addition, Korean cinemas often have nice gifts for premiere movies and discounts available through other apps. These nice things make the Korean cinema experience unique and joyful.