The Emergence of the New Wave of South Korean Cinematography in the 1980-90s
This study describes the film industry of the Republic of Korea, where the features of its interaction with the state policy and the process of transformation of South Korean cinema in the 1980s and 1990s are reviewed. The author attempts to analyze how the way of weakening the state control (to revise «Motion Picture Law»), the democratization process (pro-democratic movements and the Sixth Republic Constitution of 1987), the emergence of independent cinematographers, investments of large companies (chaebols) and the need to compete with foreign films have influenced the film industry modernization. The film industry of the Republic of Korea Is considered with focus on state policy. The paper analyzes approaches to film production, which have had a great impact on further development of Korean cinema and the formation of a new generation of young South Korean directors (Park Kwang Soo, Lee Myeong Se, Jang Sun Woo and Chung Ji Young). Their work is called the «New Wave» of South Korean cinema and it has resulted in the combined influence of political transformations, the collaboration of chaebols and cinematographers, competition with foreign films and the struggle between the old and new systems of film industry organization in the country.