Wednesday, May 16, 2012

[Wōdnes-dæg] Classic Korean Films for Free on YouTube

{A poster from a Western release of Chan-Wook Park's OldBoy - a popular example of great Korean cinema. Image from 85 Anti's tumblr.}


This isn't as new as many of the things that have been posted here on Wednesdays in the past, but it's too big to keep quiet on. Thanks to WebProNews for getting this story in front of me.

The Korean Film Archive (KOFA) did something truly amazing on 10 May 2012. Taking full advantage of the internet’s communication and distribution capabilities, and in partnership with YouTube, KOFA released 70 classic Korean films on YouTube. These movies are available in their full versions with subtitles provided by Google and are an varied display of the world of Korean film. And, they're available for free.

Along with Japan, Korea is among those nations that are the most eager to promote their culture abroad, a trend among most financially strong Asian countries that might just be interested in the soft power approach to international relationships.

Putting this large piece of their film history out on the internet for all the world to enjoy is definitely a master stroke in Korea’s cultural export game. All 70 films are available on KoreanFilmArchive's channel.

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