{
  "id": 4648777,
  "title": "Why are Korean films struggling to compete in summer blockbuster race?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/why-are-korean-films-struggling-to-compete-in-summer-blockbuster-race",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T13:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/20260831/why-are-korean-films-struggling-to-compete-in-summer-blockbuster-race"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korean films are finding it difficult to compete with the summer blockbuster race in recent times. As more moviegoers flocked to theaters, \"Spider-Man: Brand New\" and \"The Odyssey\" have drawn impressive audiences. Both films have achieved record-breaking viewership, with \"The Odyssey\" nearing the 10 million mark, making it the first summer film to surpass the milestone since 2018. July and August saw a surge in theater visits, with a total of 28.42 million people visiting Korean cinemas by Aug. 27, up 3.38 million from the same period last year. The box office has been driven by Hollywood blockbusters, leaving Korean cinema struggling to hold its own during this traditionally vibrant season.",
  "summary": "Moviegoers flocked to theaters this summer. “Spider-Man: Brand New” had drawn 8.29 million viewers as of Aug. 27, while “The Odyssey” attracted 7.2 million. With “The Odyssey” showing no signs of slowing down, it is highly likely to surpass the 10 million mark. That will make it the first film to draw more than 10 million viewers here during the summer, traditionally considered peak moviegoing…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korean films lag behind Hollywood blockbusters in summer season.",
    "Spider-Man: Brand New and The Odyssey draw record-breaking audiences.",
    "July-August saw 28.42 million theater visits in Korea, up 3.38 million from 2022."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Why are Korean films struggling to compete in summer blockbuster race?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/why-are-korean-films-struggling-to-compete-in-summer-blockbuster-race-4650370",
        "published": "2026-08-31T13:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}