tour the Seoul Film Center in Chungmuro, finally opening its doors – A new beginning for Seoul Cinematheque

chungmuro, the ‘Street of Movies’

chungmuro, the site of the Seoul Film Center, grew to become the heart of filmmaking in the 1950s, beginning with the arrival of director Kim Man-gil’ s Seorabal Film Company. in the 1960s, production companies from Myeongdong moved to the neighborhood to escape rising rents, creating a dense film ecosystem of studios, theaters, and lighting and sound companies. directors and crews shared screenplays and casting information in coffee shops and inns, and up-and-coming actors roamed the streets in hopes of breaking through.

however, with the relocation of the Korea Film Corporation to Hongneung in 1995, the use of developing and recording studios was cut off, and production bases were dispersed as rents skyrocketed along with large-scale development. the Scarra Theater, Gwondo Theater, and even the Daehan Theater closed one after another, and in 2024, Chungmuro’s cinematic traces are now limited to the Daesong Award Winners’ Mark and the Chungmuro Video Center Oh Jae-mi-dong.

why now, cinematheque?

a cinemathequeis not just a movie theater, but a film archive and museumthat preserves and studies the history and aesthetics of cinema. for audiences, it is a window to non-commercial and diverse cinema, and for creators, it is a stage for experimentation and trial. institutions around the world, such as the Cinémathèque Française in Paris and the Film Forum in New York, have supported the foundations of film culture by screening classics and collecting and restoring rare films.

in Korea, the Seoul Art Cinema wasestablished in 2002 as a private sector organization, but it was limited by its rental environment. in response, the film industry has consistently called for a public and sustainable Korean cinematheque, and in 2010, director Lee Myung-se formalized a push to build one, led by leading filmmakers including Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Choi Dong-hoon, and Lee Kyung-mi. “A cinematheque is an indispensable space for filmmakers,” they said at the time, and the Seoul Film Center is now a reality.

cho Min-seok’s architectural proposal ‘Montage 4:5’

the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the concept for the Seoul Cinematheque (tentative name) in 2015 and refined the plan through site, budget, and design adjustments. in late 2017, Montage 4:5 by Minseok Cho of Massstudieswas selected as the winner of an international design competition involving five teams of Korean and international architects.

known for his work on Space K and Wonnam Church, Cho has been recognized internationally for his work on the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition and for designing the first Korean Serpentine Pavilion. respectful of its surrounding context but with a clear purpose as a “public space for cinema,” the jury called it “a fresh interpretation of urban public space.

seoul Film Center, how it will be used

to overcome the narrowness of the site of about 800 square meters, a vertical circulation line was organized from the 3rd basement to the 10th floor. four open shared spaces and five boxy cores are intertwined, allowing natural light into the lobby, classrooms, and library, while the box zones focus on screening and preservation functions for immersive viewing.

the theater is 166-seat-78-seat-68-seat, with a focus on artistic, independent, and classical programming. it will introduce rare or hard-to-find works through initiatives such as the ‘New Director of the Month’ exhibition, and civic education programs such as archives, special exhibitions, critical lectures, and short film production workshops will also be held. the rooftop open theater, with a capacity of about 150 people, is expected to create a unique outdoor screening experience in the city center.

a film marketto promote content distribution, training to strengthen filmmakers’ professionalism, editing rooms and shared offices, and an annual fee-based membership (discounts on rentals and facilities) will also be introduced. the center is in the final stages of preparation for its official opening in mid-November after a pilot run in September.

pre-visit checkpoints

– opening schedule: Official opening in mid-November (pilot planned for September) – Key focus: Art/independent/classic screenings, archives/restoration, civic education/exhibitions, film market – Architectural highlights: Vertical tower-like circulation, open public space + box-like screening core, ‘Montage 4:5’ – Viewing highlights: New director exhibition, planned restoration screenings, rooftop open theater program