Movie-goers in Korea are eligible for a 6,000 won reduction in the price of their cinema tickets.
The Korean government has rolled out a discount program aimed at revitalising the offline cinema industry, offering significant savings to foreign national residents. The initiative, a joint effort by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council, provides **discount coupons that reduce movie ticket prices by 6,000 won (approximately £3.90)**.
Foreign residents can take advantage of these coupons by creating accounts on the websites or apps of major cinema chains, such as CGV, Lotte Cinema, Megabox, and CineQ. The program commences on July 25, 2025, with each individual eligible to claim up to two coupons per chain, starting at 10 a.m. A total of 4.5 million coupons will be available nationwide on a first-come, first-served basis.
Coupons must be utilised by September 2, 2025. It's important to note that if the discounted ticket price falls below 1,000 won, a minimum payment of 1,000 won is required. The discounts from different chains can stack, potentially allowing for savings on up to eight tickets across franchises.
These coupons can be combined with other discounts, such as "Culture Wednesdays" or senior/student discounts, making them an attractive option for a wide range of moviegoers.
The government has allocated 27.1 billion won for this movie discount project, which is part of a broader cultural subsidy initiative also covering exhibitions and performances.
For foreign residents living in Korea, the key step is signing up for the online service membership on each cinema franchise site to access and apply the coupons during ticket booking. Additional information and updates can be found on the Korea Film Council (Kofic) website.
The discount program is a response to Korea's film industry facing its worst first-half performance in over two decades. If current trends continue, annual attendance could fall below 100 million for the first time since 2004, excluding pandemic years (2020-21). The program aims to not only revive the struggling cinema industry but also boost consumer spending.
While taking advantage of the Korean government's cinema discount program, foreign residents can sign up for the online service membership on each cinema chain's website, such as CGV, Lotte Cinema, Megabox, and CineQ. These discount coupons, providing up to a 6,000 won (approximately £3.90) reduction on movie tickets, can be combined with other discounts like "Culture Wednesdays" or senior/student discounts, promoting entertainment savings in personal-finance budgeting.
