Formation of Korean Film Industry under Japanese Occupation

Abstract

The Korean term for film, cinema, or motion picture is younghwa, which comes from Japanese eiga. These two words are the same Chinese character but pronounced differently. On the other hand, the term hwaldong sajin, which corresponds to motion picture literally and sometimes means film itself, was used at one time. To see hwaldong sajin implies to see a spectacle, an attraction, and to experience new cultures, while to see younghwa means to see or to enjoy (narrative) cinema As narrative cinema has developed, hwaldong sajin is not used any longer and the experience of hwaldong sajin is absorbed into the experience of younghwa. In late nineteenth century, when cinema was invented and introduced to Korea, Japan colonized the country.