News
KOFA Expands Korean Classic Film Theater on YouTube
15 New Titles Uploaded by Korean Film Archive
Last month, on July 21st, the Korean Film Archive expanded its streaming library on YouTube by adding 15 new titles to its Korean Classic Film Theater. Launched in 2012 with 70 titles, the YouTube channel now comprises 98 features, ranging from 1936 To 1996, all of which are free to watch and equipped with English subtitles.
The latest batch of films, which represents the channel’s most significant update since its launch, includes some of the most acclaimed Korean films of all time, many of which have never been made available to foreign viewers.
Three new films by IM Kwon-taek (Village of Haze, 1982; Kilsodeum, 1985; Ticket, 1986) have been added, bringing the famed director’s total count to seven. IM will premiere his 102nd film Revivre at the Venice Film Festival later this month. Other Korean cinema masters with new titles include KIM Soo-yong (Mist, 1967; Night Journey, 1977), LEE Man-hee (Holiday, 1968; Break Up the Chain, 1971), YU Hyun-mok (Kim’s Daughters, 1963; Rainy Season, 1979) and LEE Jang-ho (Declaration of Idiots, 1983; The Man with Three Coffins, 1987).
Making his first appearance is the 1970s auteur HA Gil-jong, who joins the collection with his debut The Pollen of Flowers (1972). Other new films include CHOI In-gyu’s Hurrah for Freedom (1946), JO Keung-ha’s The Body Confession (1964) and GO Yeong-nam’s Suddenly in Dark Night (1981).
Since its debut, the Korean Classic Film Theater has amassed over 40,000 subscribers and its content has been streamed over three million times, spreading the formerly hard to find treasures of classic Korean cinema to a growing international audience.
