[Zoom In] COVID-19 Again? Film Industry on Alert... Anticipated Release of 'Emergency Declaration' Delayed

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The Korean-style aviation disaster film "Emergency Declaration," which was unveiled at this year's Cannes Film Festival, has postponed its release after much deliberation. Since it was expected to open during the Lunar New Year holiday in January next year and revitalize the box office, this decision has attracted considerable attention.

"Emergency Declaration" (directed by Han Jae-rim) is a realistic aviation disaster film depicting an unprecedented disaster situation where a plane declares an unconditional landing. It was the only Korean film invited to the non-competitive section at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival held last July, making it a highly anticipated work.

Lead actor Song Kang-ho became the first male actor to serve as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival, and Lee Byung-hun appeared on stage as a presenter at the closing ceremony, drawing local interest. The "Emergency Declaration" team received intense attention on the Cannes red carpet at that time.

With a production cost of 24.5 billion won, "Emergency Declaration" vividly portrayed the disaster that occurred on the aircraft, and the Korean blockbuster was completed with the participation of major actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jeon Do-yeon, who rarely come together in one project. In particular, the disaster situation in the film was realistically depicted, eliciting empathy and receiving favorable reviews.

"Emergency Declaration" was set to open in January 2022 with the determination to start the new year strongly. Last month, as social distancing measures were lifted in line with the "With Corona" (gradual return to daily life) policy, the film's promotional activities, which had been temporarily halted, resumed. The film industry paid close attention to the release of "Emergency Declaration," expecting it to inject vitality into the sluggish theaters.

Unfortunately, the situation changed within a month. As the new variant virus Omicron entered and spread domestically, the quarantine authorities tightened control again.

Theaters no longer have separate vaccine pass sections, and eating and drinking inside are prohibited again. Additionally, everyone must carry a quarantine pass to enter movie theaters. Furthermore, if social distancing is strengthened again, operating hour restrictions may be reinstated.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex on the 15th, "We are reviewing measures including further reductions in private gathering sizes and operating hour restrictions," and announced that new strengthened distancing measures would be announced within this week.

Moreover, the industry is on edge again as actors and broadcasters actively working on drama sets and in the popular culture sector have recently tested positive for COVID-19 one after another.

The postponement of "Emergency Declaration"'s release appears to be a decision made considering this atmosphere. It is based on the expectation that movie theaters could be hit again as social distancing measures are reinforced.

Showbox stated on the 15th, "COVID-19 is rapidly spreading currently, and efforts such as strengthening quarantine measures are underway in various sectors. Considering the difficulties of the current situation, we have decided to temporarily postpone the release of 'Emergency Declaration.'"

They added, "Although we are disappointed as it was a highly anticipated release, after much deliberation, we decided to postpone because we believe 'Emergency Declaration' will remain a beloved film by many viewers."

Showbox also said, "The place where a film can shine the most is the theater. Therefore, we will meet the audience when their visits to theaters can be a little lighter," and "We will prepare to meet the audience in theaters."

While announcing the postponement, the "Emergency Declaration" team expressed their determination to properly showcase the film in theaters. The film, completed with a huge production budget, was made to be best experienced and enjoyed in theaters.

Meanwhile, Lotte Entertainment, which was preparing to release the film "Pirates 2" around the same time, has stated that there are no plans to postpone its release yet but is expected to monitor the situation and discuss further.

Additionally, "Innocent Witness," scheduled to open on the 5th of next month, and "Special Delivery," releasing a week later on the 12th, may also change their schedules depending on the implementation and details of social distancing measures.

Separately, the Marvel new release "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which opened on the same day, is receiving a hot response with 750,000 advance ticket sales and a real-time reservation rate exceeding 95%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.