Airflix Debuts New Movie Theater Concept to Korean Audiences

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Korean Film News

NEWS & REPORTS

Airflix Debuts New Movie Theater Concept to Korean Audiences

Jan 31, 2018

Writer by Christopher Weatherspoon
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Company Opens ‘Shared Economy Theater Platform’ Venue in Seoul

A new-concept in movie theaters will soon be putting empty performance venues to good use. Airflix, Korea's first "shared economy movie theater platform," recently began operating its first location. The company, which converts performance halls into movie theaters while not in use, opened its first theater in Seoul on January 11. Located in the basement theater of the Platform-L Cultural Space in Gangnam, the venue features a large screen and 170 seats.

Unlike movie theaters, concert halls and other live performance venues don’t see heavy weekday usage. “There are more than 1,200 concert halls all over the country, but they’re only used for 3-4 hours on weekdays”, said BAE Hyung-joon, the CEO of Airflix, “We will use the venue at these times as a theater to offer a variety of attractions at a minimal cost.”

Though Airflix currently only has one location, BAE revealed that they were in discussions with 150 performance venues across the country. “We will open a second location in Dongduk Women's University Performing Arts Center soon,” the CEO announced.

BAE, who was in charge of distribution and investment for 14 years at Lotte Cinema also promises that converted spaces will not compromise the quality of screenings. “The venue is equipped with the finest acoustics” said BAE, and “thanks to high-end projection, the sound quality and picture are comparable to general movie theaters.”

With Airflix’s business model, the company does not pay royalties or rent out space from the venue owners. Instead, it splits the revenue from ticket sales. Tickets for Airflix screenings are also reasonably priced with weekday tickets selling for KRW 6,600 (US $6.20) and weekend prices set at KRW 8,800 (US $8.30), both cheaper than the KRW 11,000 average ticket price of Korean theaters.

Airflix will mainly focus on screening art house and specialty films that are difficult to find at major theater chains.

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