Korean artists excel once given opportunity
By Mark Russell
Coming out of the wreckage of the Korean War, Seoul was mostly rubble, with some 80 percent of the city leveled. Everything would have to be rebuilt. But with materials and money in short supply, that reconstruction needed to be prioritized.
So it is telling that two of the earliest buildings constructed after the War were movie theaters. Built with money from organized crime, actually.
It is a sign of how important cinema and entertainment was, and is, to people in Korea. And although all the arts have had their ups and downs over the years, few people could have imagined in 1950 how big and influential Korean entertainment would become, both at home and abroad.
By the 1960s, the Korean movie industry was booming, producing hundreds of films each year as people flocked to theaters in incredible numbers. Many of the directors of this period have become legends, producing famous films that have earned praise from around the world.
Sadly, though, the good times did not last. First came television, and as in most countries around the world, television took
Jul 30, 2010
