In my opinion, "What's the best 5 theater to must-see in Korea?"

 

Hello, I'm SILVER.
South Korea has one of the top 10 movie markets in the world. In 2022, South Korea's theater market is expected to be the 7th largest in the world.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has put the theater industry in crisis, South Korea's theater market remains strong. In this article, I'll give you a quick overview of the most common movie theaters in South Korea.

 

Yongsan IMAX Theater
-(Yongsan i-Park Mall CGV)

Yongsan Station is a stop on Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, KTX, and regular trains. There is a shopping mall here called i-Park Mall. On the 6th and 7th floors of this mall, the largest theater in Yongsan I-Park Mall CGV is the Yongsan Imax Theater. When it opened, it had the largest screen of any multiplex theater in the world, and it is the largest Imax theater in Korea. It measures 31 meters across and 22.4 meters long. It has an IMAX GT screen, dual laser Imax projectors, and is the only theater in Korea to show Imax films in the 1.43:1 ratio. As a result, booking tickets for this theater is a battle.

 

Yongsan 4DX Theater
-(Yongsan i-Park Mall CGV)

In addition to the Imax Theater, Yongsan i-Park Mall CGV has one of the best 4DX theaters in Korea. With a total of 144 seats, the 4DX theater is a combined theater with SCREENX. The 4DX theater has three sides. The combination of SCREENX and 4DX, which are shown on three sides, creates a more immersive experience. In particular, the 40 silver-colored seats in the prime section are the most popular seats because they are more delicate than regular seats and operate with a variety of motions. If you want to see the best 4DX theater in South Korea, the last country with the format, this is the place to go.

 

Dolby Cinema screening in Namyangju
-(Megabox at Hyundai Outlet SpaceOne in Namyangju)

In South Korea, a multiplex chain called CGV has a monopoly on IMAX. In response, in 2020, Megabox will begin exclusively operating the Dolby Cinema format. There are six Dolby Cinema locations in South Korea (as of August 2023), with the flagship Dolby Cinema located in Namyangju. Dolby Cinemas in Korea are similar to their international counterparts, except that they have regular seats rather than recliner seats. With their detailed surround sound and bright, clear image quality, they have recently become the favorite of many movie fans in Korea. Overall, Dolby Cinemas in Korea are maintained at a certain level by branch, and the Namyangju Dolby Cinema has a good reputation. Many people appreciate the large screen, which has considerable power and detailed sound. However, the downside of Namyangju Dolby Cinema is that it's not very accessible by public transportation. It takes about 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi from Donong Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. For reference, there is also a Dolby Cinema at COEX in Seoul, which has a Cinemascope aspect ratio screen. The largest Dolby Cinema in Korea is the Dolby Cinema in Daejeon.

 

Lotte Cinema Suwon Colorium
-(Lotte Mall Suwon)

Lotte Cinema is another multiplex chain in South Korea. They differentiate themselves with their screening environments rather than specialty formats like Imax or Dolby Cinema. The Colorium is a prime example of this. Previously, Lotte Cinema had a SuperS theater, which displays movies directly on LED screens instead of using conventional projectors. The Colorium is a more advanced version of the existing SuperS theater. Samsung LED screen panels measuring 14 meters across were installed, and Harman JBL audio was used for the speakers. In addition, recliner seats were installed in the theater from row F onwards, allowing for comfortable viewing. Since it's an LED screen, the brightness and contrast are better than traditional screen projection. The blacks are excellent. However, because it's an electronic display panel, the speakers are placed next to the screen instead of behind the screen as before. This has the disadvantage that the sound is directed slightly away from the audience, rather than directly in front of them. However, movie fans prefer it because they can see the cleanest screen. The Colorium currently only exists at Lotte Cinema in Lotte Mall Suwon. (As of July 2023.) Lotte Mall Suwon is about a 5-minute walk from Suwon Station, which is served by Metro Line 1, Suinbundang Line, and local trains. It's connected by a walkway, so it's easy to get to.

 

Yeongdeungpo Screen X
-(CGV in Yeongdeungpo Times Square)

The shopping mall Times Square is located a 10-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo Station, which is served by Metro Line 1 and regular trains. The Yeongdeungpo CGV located in Times Square is home to ScreenX. Yeongdeungpo ScreenX, which projects an extended screen to the left and right in addition to the center screen, is one of the best ScreenX theaters in Korea. In conventional ScreenX theaters, the left and right sides are just projected on the wall, which is very different from the center screen. However, in the case of Yeongdeungpo ScreenX, screens were installed on the left and right walls, which significantly reduced the color difference between the center screen and the screens on the left and right sides. In addition, the space inside the theater is quite large, so a large part of the view from the seats is filled with screens. It's a different experience from an IMAX in that it's a side-to-side expansion rather than a vertical expansion from top to bottom.

As a result, in addition to movies, they often show performances by KPOP singers and idol groups. However, since the screen takes up the left and right walls instead of the speakers, the sound is a bit poor compared to the large space.

Also, the screens are placed at the top, so you can see upwards from the seats. There's also a separate room called the Private Box, but I wouldn't recommend it for the price.

 

This is a brief introduction to some of the most iconic movie theaters in Korea. I've been to all five of them, and it's great to see the same movie in different theaters and experience the uniqueness of each place. I hope this is helpful for those who want to visit Korea to watch movies or experience the theater culture.

P.S. Multiplex theaters in Korea actually start the movie after about 10 minutes of commercial breaks in the timetable on the ticket.