Courtesy of NETFLIX

The Korean Film Council (Kofic) released its annual report on gender equality in the Korean film industry, revealing that among the 35 commercial films with a production budget exceeding 30 billion won ($2.25 million) last year, only one, the action thriller "The Point Men," was directed by a woman, Yim Soon-rye.

This marks the lowest ratio of female directors since the report's initiation in 2017. The report also disclosed that out of the total 183 Korean films, including independent and art films, 22.8 percent were directed by women, with 24.8 percent serving as female producers, 40.7 percent as lead actors, 30.7 percent as screenwriters, and 8.1 percent as cinematographers. 

▲ A scene from the Netflix series ″Kill Boksoon″ / Courtesy of NETFLIXIn the specific category of commercial films, the participation of female talent was notably limited. Only 23.9 percent were female producers, 25.7 percent were female lead actors, and 21.8 percent were female screenwriters. No female cinematographers were reported in this category.

Among the seven Korean films released on streaming platforms, no female directors or cinematographers were identified. However, the number of female producers and lead actors reached four and five, respectively, with the release of female-led films like "Unlocked" and "Kill Boksoon."

Kofic expressed concern about the potential further contraction of opportunities for female talent in the Korean film industry, citing challenges arising from producers' hesitancy to undertake bold experiments following the Covid-19 pandemic. The report noted a perceived regression in creative talent and gender equality in the industry since the outbreak of the pandemic, with expectations for the trend to persist amid sluggish investment.

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Kelly.K, pittou8181@gmail.com