Screen monopoly and diversity: a comparative study between the Korean and French film industries

Abstract

In recent years, there have been many voices in Korea arguing that a few commercially successful fi lms take up the opportunities for the exhibition of other fi lms and thus limit the selection of titles available for moviegoers, a trend dubbed the “ screen monopoly ” . In seeking a solution, a number of scholars have looked to the anti-screen monopoly “ regulations ” in France, but without providing rigorous or persuasive evidence. By comparing the appropriate variables of Korea and France, this paper argues that the Korean fi lm market is less monopolised than France despite the non-existence of these regulations. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Korea has more diversity than France. As a result, this paper concludes that introducing the French anti-screen monopoly regulations in Korea does not seem a bene fi cial option. The fi ndings in this paper suggest a strong need to re-examine the e ff ectiveness of government policies in the cultural industry.