Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
South Korea cinema attendance hits a yearly low in November
South Korean cinemas averaged about 132,000 visitors a day from Nov.
1 to 13, the lowest level recorded so far this year.
That was 47.2% below October’s daily average and about half the figure for November last year.
November is usually a quiet period between major releases around the autumn holiday and year-end, but this year there are especially few films drawing a broad audience.
An analyst linked the slump to a shortage of new Korean films, with major releases concentrated in busier seasons.
Fan-focused titles and re-releases are helping fill screens, including the Japanese animation Chiikawa film and a concert film by singer Lim Young-woong.
Cinemas are also offering re-releases and special screenings, but the slow period is expected to continue until major films arrive in December.
On Dec.
16, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three are scheduled to open on the same day, with special-format screenings also expected to attract interest.
South Korean cinemas averaged about 132,000 moviegoers a day from Nov. 1 to 13, the lowest level recorded this year.
The daily average was down 47.2% from October and was about half the figure for November last year.
A lack of widely appealing releases and a decline in Korean film production were cited as factors behind the slump.
Fan-focused films and re-releases have filled some of the gap, while major foreign releases are expected in December.
- Who
- South Korean cinemas and moviegoers.
- What
- Average daily cinema attendance fell to about 132,000, its lowest level this year.
- When
- Nov. 1–13, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The article cites a shortage of widely appealing releases, including fewer Korean films, and says major releases tend to cluster in peak seasons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korean cinemas averaged about 132,000 moviegoers a day, according to the article.
The Korean films Snowfall and Sad Tropics were scheduled to open.
Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three were scheduled to open on the same day.
- Daily average attendance
- About 132,000, Nov. 1–13
- Change from October
- Down 47.2%
- November 2025 daily average
- About 246,000
- November box-office leader
- The Japanese animated film Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island
- Major releases scheduled
- Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, both Dec. 16
1 source
What people are saying
The reason is that there are structurally too few releases.
Since there are no so-called tentpole films, cinemas are showing various titles such as re-releases and exclusive releases.