K-Content News

Movie theaters transform into concert halls

  Cinemas here in Korea are moving beyond their role of simply screening blockbusters to sharing on their big screen music concerts.
Ahn Sung-jin covers this trend and the public response.

The chanting, the energy, and the beat that are coming from the loudspeakers.

Fans often pay a fortune to attend a concert featuring their favorite artist, just to enjoy the buzz and feel the enthusiasm.
But what if all of this was possible at a movie theater as well?


"Alongside regular films, movie theaters are now showing concert movies, which are recordings of live performances, for fans to relive the excitement and the atmosphere of being at a concert."

South Korean singer Lim Young-woong's 2 concerts in May garnered 100-thousand people.
And for his avid fans, the concert has been recreated into a concert movie, and so far more than 200-thousand movie watchers have seen it, generating revenue of 4.4 million U.S. dollars.

"I only get to enjoy the vibe during the concert because it's so far away, but at the movie theater I could see the details so well."


"I only concentrated on the singer during the concert so the movie helped me see things that I've missed out on."


From Taylor Swift to BTS, more and more artists are becoming available not only in concert halls, but on movie screens as well.

"I can really feel that more people are coming to watch such concert movies. At movie theaters, you get to enjoy the concert with a huge screen and an immense sound system which I think draws in these people and brings the sensation."


With the changing needs of moviegoers, more of the industry is looking to evolve to accommodate the rising demand for concert movies.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.