Adult Movie Theaters Likely to Open in June

By Son Key-young

Staff Reporter

Adult movie theaters are likely to be introduced to Korea probably from next June.

To that effect, a bill for the revision of the Movie Promotion Law was passed at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil yesterday.

So far, the government has banned the establishment of adult movie theaters. At the same time, it didn't give ratings to films with explicit sexual content or excessive violence, thus preventing them from being screened in public cinemas.

In the past, adult movies have been regarded as materials which erode the nation's traditional values based on Confucianism but the Kim Dae-jung administration has been progressive over the issue in spite of strong resistance from conservative forces.

In particular, the United Liberal Democrats, one of the two ruling coalition parties, has been opposed to the introduction of adult movie theaters, thus erecting a hurdle to efforts to pass the bill successfully in the National Assembly.

At a consultation meeting between the administration and the ruling coalition parties, they agreed to further launch debates over the issue during the process of enacting the law.

At present, Korea's movie rating system consists of three categories: general audiences, restricted under 12 and restricted under 18.

Under the new bill, five categories will be introduced: general audiences, restricted under 12, restricted under 15, restricted under 19 and X-rated.

Those wanting to operate adult movie theaters will have to win authorization from mayors or provincial governors in accordance with the presidential decree.

Those who permit youngsters to enter adult movie theaters or screen adult movies in ordinary theaters will face three years of imprisonment or a maximum f 30 million won in fines.

The rating ``restricted under 18'' was changed to ``restricted under 19'' because the Youth Protection Law defines youth as those aged less than 19.

The government's refusal to give a rating to sexually explicit movies has prevented the domestic screening of such Korean movies as ``Lies,'' which won acclaim at the last Venice film festival.

skyquick@koreatimes.co.kr

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Cited from Korea Times