Monthly ticket sales for theater performances recover to pre-pandemic levels

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 22:36

Theater & Others

Monthly ticket sales for theater performances recover to pre-pandemic levels

Posted : 2021-11-09 17:38

Updated : 2021-11-09 17:45

Jaap van Zweden, the Dutch music director of both the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic orchestras enters the stage for a performance with the KBS Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center, Oct. 29. Korea Times photo by Jang Jae-jin

By Park Ji-won

Aggregate ticket sales for musicals, plays, classical concerts and other performances reached 30.3 billion won ($25.7 billion) in October, according to the data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS), for the first time in about 21 months, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monthly revenue had been on a steady decline since January last year when it reached 40.5 billion won ― it amounted to 20.9 billion won in February and 9.1 billion won in March of 2020. Monthly revenue fell to its lowest level in January this year, recording 3.7 billion won. However, except for July and August, when the number of infections soared, revenue has been showing a rebound, as many learned that there were many infections at theaters.

Sales are likely to rise further as most shows have been ready to welcome customers due to the gradual easing of social distancing measures following the introduction of the government's "Living with COVID-19" plan, starting Nov. 1.

Previously, under Level 4 social distancing measures, only 70 percent of the seats in any performance venue could be sold, and there was a limit on operating hours of 10 p.m., but as of Nov. 1, these limitations have been lifted and theaters can now be fully filled with vaccinated audiences.

jwpark@koreatimes.co.kr