Seoul Cinema

Seoul Cinema (Korean: 서울극장; Japanese: ソウル劇場) is a historic movie theater in Seoul, South Korea. It first opened in 1907 as a vaudeville and playhouse called Jukuza (壽座) in the then-capital Hanseong, during the late Korean Empire period when Korea was already a Japanese protectorate. The venue was renamed Gyeongseong Theater (京城劇場) in 1916, burned down in 1929, and was rebuilt in 1930. In 1940 it was converted into a cinema and acquired by the Japanese studio Daiei. After World War II, it was renamed Seoul Theater around 1946. In 1958 it was purchased by Kuk Kae-nam (鞠快男), who renamed it Century Theater (世紀劇場) and founded Seiki Trading (世紀商事) to operate it. In 1977 film director Kwak Jeong-hwan (郭貞煥) acquired the theater, renamed it back to Seoul Theater, and rebuilt it as a four-story reinforced concrete building that reopened in 1978. In 1997 it was renovated into a seven-screen multiplex. Today it is operated by Gonghap Film, run by actress and company president Goh Eun-a, widow of Kwak Jeong-hwan. The theater's entrance bears the inscription "Since 1964," referring to the founding year of Gonghap Film. It is located in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, having moved from its original site in Chungmuro 3-ga, Jung-gu.

Seoul Cinema opened in 1907 as Jukuza (壽座), a vaudeville and playhouse in Hanseong (later Gyeongseong), at what is now Chungmuro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. At the time, Korea was a Japanese protectorate, and the theater catered to Japanese residents with performances such as kabuki. In 1916 it was renovated and renamed Gyeongseong Theater (京城劇場), managed by Bunshima Shujiro. The wooden three-story Japanese-style building was photographed in 1922. On February 13, 1929, a fire destroyed the theater, causing 150,000 yen in damage and killing or injuring two firefighters. It was rebuilt in 1930 as a two-story brick building. Around 1940 it was converted into a cinema and acquired by Daiei (大映), becoming a directly managed theater. After World War II, it was renamed Seoul Theater around 1946. In 1958, Kuk Kae-nam (鞠快男), a newly elected National Assembly member, purchased the theater, renamed it Century Theater (世紀劇場), and founded Seiki Trading (世紀商事) to operate it. Seiki Trading was listed on the stock exchange in 1968, the first in the exhibition industry. In 1977, film director Kwak Jeong-hwan (郭貞煥) acquired the theater, demolished the old building, and rebuilt it as a four-story reinforced concrete structure. It reopened on September 17, 1978, as Seoul Theater, with the opening film "The Last Winter" (마지막 겨울). In 1982, following the lifting of a nighttime curfew, the theater began late-night screenings with "Madame Aema" (애마부인), which ran for four months and drew 315,738 admissions at this theater alone. In 1997, the theater was renovated into a seven-screen multiplex. Kwak Jeong-hwan died on November 8, 2013; his widow, actress Goh Eun-a, continues to run the theater and Gonghap Film. The entrance bears the inscription "Since 1964," the founding year of Gonghap Film.

• 2013

  Kwak Jeong-hwan died on November 8; Goh Eun-a continues to run the theater.

• 1997

  Renovated into a seven-screen multiplex.

• 1982

  Began late-night screenings with "Madame Aema," which ran for four months.

• 1978

  Reopened as Seoul Theater on September 17 in a new four-story building.

• 1977

  Acquired by film director Kwak Jeong-hwan; old building demolished.

• 1968

  Seiki Trading listed on the stock exchange, a first in the exhibition industry.

• 1958

  Purchased by Kuk Kae-nam, renamed Century Theater, and Seiki Trading founded.

• 1946

  Renamed Seoul Theater.

• 1940

  Converted into a cinema and acquired by Daiei.

• 1930

  Rebuilt as a two-story brick building.

• 1929

  Destroyed by fire on February 13.

• 1916

  Renovated and renamed Gyeongseong Theater (京城劇場).

• 1907

  Opened as Jukuza (壽座), a vaudeville and playhouse, in Hanseong (now Seoul).

Historic first-run cinema and multiplex in central Seoul

Product categories. Movie screenings · Multiplex cinema services

1. 1Seoul Cinema - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2ソウル劇場 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org