50 Years of the Korean Film Archive 2007~Present
Blueprint for the Digital Age: From the Move to Sangam-dong to the Present
Korean Film Archive
Lee Ji-youn (Researcher, Research & Curation Team, Korean Film Archive)
Opening Ceremony of Cultural Content Center, Sangam-dong (2007)Korean Film Archive
Shift to a hub for digital era visual culture archiving
In 2007, KOFA moved to the "Digital Media City" in Sangam-dong, Seoul, home to many broadcasters and media organizations. KOFA's new, digitally optimized facility is now a hub for archiving visual culture and a place where many people can enjoy its legacy.
Facilities of KOFA Sangam-dong Building (2007)Korean Film Archive
Birth of a full-fledged archive cultural complex
In May 2007, after three years of preparation and construction, KOFA moved to Sangam-dong. It became a full-fledged archival complex with a library, museum, and movie theater, in addition to a professionally equipped archive.
The first facility to open to the public was the Film Reference Library, where visitors can freely browse movies, screenplays, and related books.
Cinematheque KOFA opened in May 2008, featuring a 321-seat theater for film, digital cinema, and 3D movies, a 150-seat theater for independent films, and a lecture room. It has become an important space for cinephiles with its robust programming and continues to expand its value.
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The Korean Film Museum features the Permanent Exhibition and the Special Exhibition. The Permanent Exhibition lets visitors learn about film history, technology, aesthetics, and filmmaking principles. In 2022, a new “Invitation to Early Cinema” zone was added.
KOFA's Magazine, Cinema Paradise (2019) by 한국영상자료원Korean Film Archive
Cultural complex magazine, Cinema Paradise
As KOFA transitioned to a multicultural space, it launched a bimonthly magazine, Cinema Paradise. Published from May 2008 to April 2019, the magazine covered KOFA's activities, film industry trends, academic insights, and news from film archives worldwide.
Poster of Cinematheque KOFA Opening Film Festival (2008-05-25)Korean Film Archive
Open sesami, open the treasure trove of films!
The first issue of Cinema Paradise featured the inaugural Cinematheque KOFA Film Festival. Korea's first feature-length animated film was screened, along with a selection of films from East Asian archives, including the earliest surviving Korean silent film.
Film Canister of Turning Point of Youngsters at the Time of Discovery (2007)Korean Film Archive
The oldest surviving film: Turning Point of the Youngsters
In late 2007, a man knocked on KOFA's door with old movie reels. He sought to identify films that belonged to his father, who ran Dansungsa from shortly after liberation until shortly after the Korean War. The nine cans of film he brought with him bore different titles.
Bleached Film of Turning Point of Youngsters (2007)Korean Film Archive
However, the reels were nitrate films with a low ignition point, some decay, and overall shrinkage, making identification a challenge.
Release Pamphlet of Turning Point of Youngsters (1934) by 금강키네마Korean Film Archive
Through careful examination and authentication by KOFA, the film was identified as Turning Point of the Youngsters (1934). It was sent to Japan for an extensive eight-month restoration and was finally released in May 2008 at the Cinematheque KOFA inaugural film festival.
Music Video of the Screening of Turning Point of Youngsters with Narrator Performance. (2008)Korean Film Archive
21st century revival: Live narrator performance
The release was unique and special, featuring a narrator from the silent era and a live performance by actors. The performance of Turning Point of the Youngsters received an overwhelming audience response and has been invited to major film festivals and cultural events worldwide.
The Live Performance of Turning Point of the Youngsters (2008)Korean Film Archive
Beyond film: Restoring social and cultural history
The live performance of Turning Point of the Youngsters went beyond film restoration, aiming to revive the socio-cultural history of the era. In 2014, on its 40th anniversary, KOFA took on the challenge of restoring socio-cultural history once again.
Love with an Alien Film Still (1957)Korean Film Archive
Discovery of Korea's first Korean-Hong Kong co-production
The first Korean-Hong Kong co-production, Love with an Alien (1957), is a beautiful melodrama about the love between a young Korean composer and a Hong Kong singer. The film's existence was not confirmed until 2012.
Discovery of Love with an Alien Film Prints (2012)Korean Film Archive
KOFA began a long search for the film in Hong Kong. After more than three years of research, the film was found in the Shaw Brothers' archive. Unfortunately, the film was badly damaged, with vinegar syndrome, shrinkage, fading, discoloration, and the sound film was lost.
Chinese Script of Love with an Alien Chinese Script of Love with an Alien (1957)Korean Film Archive
The images were restored in collaboration with Imagica Lab. in Japan, but the sound was still lost. KOFA took a novel approach to restoring the film by filling in the dialogues using the surviving Korean screenplay and a Chinese script from Shaw Brothers in Hong Kong.
Teaser of Live Dubbing Show of Love with an Alien (2014)Korean Film Archive
Love with an Alien, a live dubbing show
Inspired by the radio dramas of the 1950s and 60s, voice actors performed the characters' lines on stage, and the sound effects were created live during the screening. The film, which had lost its voices and visual quality, was brought back to life as a live dubbing show.
Teaser Trailer of Performance Video Project Round and Around (2020)Korean Film Archive
Video performance project Round and Around
In 2020, KOFA launched a new video performance project, Round and Around, directed by Jang Min-seung. The twists and turns of modern Korean history are depicted in a new audiovisual experience using video, music, and theater lighting.
Color Restoration Room at Paju Preservation Center (2021)Korean Film Archive
Embracing the digital era
Meanwhile, KOFA's focus from this time onward was on archiving video in the digital age. As film developers worldwide were closing down and Kodak faced bankruptcy, KOFA began to apply digital technology to film restoration and preservation in earnest.
Martin Scorsese on The HousemaidKorean Film Archive
Digital restoration with the support of World Cinema Project
KOFA began digital restoration in 2006 with Bound by Chastity Rule (1962) with Busan International Film Festival. This effort continued, culminating in the 2009 restoration of The Housemaid, supported by the World Cinema Project, led by Martin Scorsese.
Before-and-After Comparison Video of the Restoration of Aimless Bullet (2016)Korean Film Archive
In-House restoration of Aimless Bullet
In 2016, more advanced technology was used to restore Aimless Bullet (1961). The film, which had English subtitles burned onto it, was restored using KOFA's proprietary technology to remove the subtitles. It was finally shown in its entirety.
35mm Release Print of SnowpiercerKorean Film Archive
The last Korean film shot in film: Snowpiercer
However, the importance of preserving 'film' should not be overlooked. KOFA currently preserves over 26,000 reels and 13,000 film titles. The last Korean movie shot on film, Snowpiercer (2013), is also part of our heritage to be cherished and preserved.
Han U-seob and Han Kyu-ho Collection (2015)Korean Film Archive
Reunion with lost films: The Han Family Collection
The Han U-seob and Han Kyu-ho Collection, acquired in 2015, includes over 800 film reels from their traveling cinema business (1960s-80s). Most of the films are 16mm prints, many of which hold archival value as they were previously thought to be lost.
'If I Ever Get Married' from Obuja (2023)Korean Film Archive
Some rarely preserved pre-Korean War works were discovered, including the debut film A Woman Judge (1962) by Hong Eun-won, South Korea's second female director, and the only surviving film print of Obuja (1958), a popular 1950s comedy.
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Construction of the second preservation center
In 2016, KOFA opened a new preservation center in Paju to more safely and systematically preserve both physical film and digital media. A dual preservation system was established between Sangam and Paju to safeguard the heritage of the past (film) and the present (digital).
VFX Asset Sharing Platform i.AM VFX Asset Sharing Platform i.AM (2024)Korean Film Archive
New challenges for digital archiving
Launched by KOFA in 2022, VFX source data archiving is an innovative way to preserve digital legacies. Since nearly all videos today are created using VFX technology, archiving this source data systematically creates a foundation for future utilization.
Furthermore, KOFA is preparing to launch “i.AM” in September 2024, a platform designed to facilitate the sharing and distribution of VFX assets between suppliers and demanders, with the aim of contributing more widely to the video culture.
KOFA Collection: Opening of the Film Market and Screen Quota (2022)Korean Film Archive
Uncovering the value of materials: KOFA collection
The 50-year-long collection of materials may sometimes seem trivial, but each has a 'solemn' value. The KOFA Collection aims to uncover the value of these materials. From donated collections to themed collections, more than 70 collections are now available on KMDb.
Site of the Oral History Redording of Noh Man, Film Critic's life (2022)Korean Film Archive
Testimonies for Korean film history: Oral histories
The gaps in Korean film history are being filled through the recollections of filmmakers. The 'Oral History Project,' celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has met with a total of 225 filmmakers. Their stories are vivid testimonies of Korean film history.
The Sound of Clocks from the 2024 Children's Film Academy (2024)Korean Film Archive
For future generations
The cinematic heritage of today is for future generations. Since 2008, KOFA has organized the Children's Film Academy. This filmmaking experience allows children to share the joy of creation with family and friends, nourishing the film culture they will create and enjoy.
Grand Prize of "I am! A Video Essayist" Contest: Dreams that Paints Dream by Baek Dong-yeop (2022)Korean Film Archive
Breathing with the legacy of the past
The Video Essay Project uses classic films to create new stories, connecting past heritage with the present. This offers a unique experience where the visual culture of future generations coexists with the film heritage of past generations. This is the value KOFA pursues.
Organized and produced by Korean Film Archive
Curated by Lee Ji-youn (Researcher, Research & Curation Team, Korean Film Archive)
Production arranged by Lee Ji-youn, Song Eun-ji
Translated by Double D
