Summary
Delays in the Ministry of Culture’s Voluntary Film Holdback Agreement
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is pursuing a voluntary film holdback agreement to protect theatrical releases and improve Korea’s film distribution structure. The proposal would require Korean films to wait 150 days after their theatrical release before becoming available on subscription-based OTT platforms, with exemptions for certain pre-invested films, independent and art-house productions, and existing contracts.
However, negotiations have been delayed due to disagreements among OTT providers, production companies, distributors, and IPTV operators over release restrictions, revenue recovery, and market fairness. Although the government aims to reach an agreement within 2026, the final implementation schedule remains uncertain. The discussions highlight the need for a flexible distribution framework that balances theatrical protection with the commercial interests of industry stakeholders.
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