By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Moviegoers will be able to enjoy coffee or snacks bought outside of the theaters while watching films, and operators will have to provide lists of food moviegoers can bring inside.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Monday ordered the nation's four largest multiplex cinema chains to rewrite regulations banning customers from carrying foods they have bought outside. The chain theaters are CGV, Megabox, Lotte Cinema, and Primus Cinema.
Following the order, the theaters are posting on their Web sites the list of food items that are allowed or banned.
Lotte Cinema removed ``ice cream'' from its list of non-permissible foods. It will also allow ``hot coffee'' if the coffee is carried in a container with lid.
CGV and Primus will permit cookies and canned drinks. The two and Megabox will not allow foods in glass bottles, which might hurt viewers if broken. Among other banned items are foods with strong odor, such as pizza and ``sundae'' (Korean-style blood sausage).
``The measure is expected to ease moviegoers' inconvenience by expanding the number of allowable food items,'' an FTC official said.