When I traveled to London, I visited two independent cinemas: ‘Electric Cinema’ in Notting Hill and ‘Prince Charles Cinema‘ in Soho. Even though my English wasn’t fluent and I couldn’t understand every word of the movies, my memory of first visiting ‘Electric Cinema‘ was so good that I sought out another independent cinema in London on my next trip. I thought it would be great to visit unique independent cinemas in other countries too, and this thought led me to introduce a few small independent cinemas in Seoul.
Actually, there is another reason I am writing this. While it’s not in Seoul, this topic came to mind while I was watching a movie called ‘Siraat’ at the ‘Myungfilm Art Center’ in Paju, after hearing the news that it would be closing.
+ Most independent cinemas in Korea can be checked on the ‘Dtryx‘ website. (For foreigners, booking as a non-member is possible on the website, but if it’s difficult, I recommend on-site ticketing.)
1. Laika Cinema (라이카시네마)
- Official Website : laikacinema.com
- Price : Weekdays 10,000 KRW / Weekends 11,000 KRW (Reservations: Dtryx)
- Address : 18 Yeonhui-ro 8-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
- Map : Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
This cinema is in Yeonhui–dong. Yeonhui-dong is an area I love; it’s fun to explore every corner, and it’s filled with great restaurants and cafes with a nice atmosphere. Whenever I have a reason to go to Yeonhui-dong or want to go there, I check the Laika Cinema website first. That’s why it’s the place I’ve visited the most among the cinemas introduced in this post.
It is the first cinema in Yeonhui-dong and an art-house theater. It was named in honor of ‘Laika,’ the first dog sent into space. When I visited, there was only one screen (Theater S) in the basement, but I heard another theater has opened on the 2nd floor.
I prefer Row C (aisle side) or Row D. The seats are spacious enough that your legs won’t touch the seat in front (though this depends on your height). This is one of the reasons I like this place. Also, bringing in or eating food is not allowed; only drinks can be taken inside.
2. CineCube (씨네큐브)
- Official Website : cinecube.co.kr
- Price : Weekdays 11,000 KRW / Weekends 12,000 KRW (Reservations: Dtryx)
- Address : B2, Heungkuk Life Insurance Building, 68 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Map : Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Located in the middle of the Gwanghwamun city center, it is situated beneath a massive building where you wouldn’t expect a cinema to be. I went there for a GV (Guest Visit) of the Netflix documentary ‘Yellow Door’.
There are two theaters, and I went to Theater 1. What was unique was that there is a stage below the screen, giving it the feeling of watching in an auditorium. (Looking up more info, I found out it actually used to be an auditorium.) To be honest, I don’t think the seats are particularly comfortable or unique. However, if you remember that it is the oldest art-house cinema in Korea, it can be a special experience.
3. Emu Cinema (에무 시네마)
- Official Website : emuartspace.com
- Price : 10,000 KRW / Morning 7,000 KRW (Reservations: Dtryx)
- Starlight Film Festival (별빛영화제): 14,000 KRW (Reservation via Naver / Refer to Instagram) https://linktr.ee/emucinema
- Address : 7 Gyeonghuigung 1ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Map : Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
While CineCube is on the main road of Gwanghwamun, this place is further inside on the opposite side, located behind Gyeonghui Palace. Actually, I haven’t been able to visit yet due to failing to get tickets, but I still wanted to introduce it. This is because of the “Starlight Film Festival,” which is held only during seasons with good weather.
Wouldn’t watching a movie together on a rooftop in the middle of Seoul be a pretty fun experience? As I mentioned, ticketing is very difficult, especially for popular movies. Since reservations are only accepted through Naver, it seems like online booking would only be possible for travelers by signing up for Naver or through a Korean acquaintance. Offline (on-site) ticketing doesn’t seem very realistic here. Also, since it’s an outdoor screening, it is affected by the weather. Korea has a monsoon season, so there are times when the rainy period is quite long. There is information that you receive a notification at 5:30 PM on the day regarding the screening status in case of rain, so I only recommend this for mid-to-long-term travelers.
Despite these realistic difficulties and variables, wouldn’t a evening watching a movie outdoors in Seoul with a glass of beer be quite romantic?
4. Movieland (무비랜드)
- Official Website : movieland.co
- Open : only on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Price : 20,000 KRW / Reservations available on the Movieland website.
- Address : 5-5 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
- Map : Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Passing through Yeonhui-dong and Gwanghwamun, I want to move a bit further to the east of Seoul. This is Movieland, located in Seongsu. I visited this place for a brand event. I found it interesting because I already knew it was operated by More-Better-Works, a group famous for their branding.
The visual feel is very different from other cinemas. True to the name ‘Movieland,’ it felt like entering a small theme park. A special point about this place is that they screen movies chosen by curators. Curators from various fields, such as actors, comedians, directors, and musicians, have participated. Therefore, instead of the latest releases, you can get a glimpse of movies filled with someone’s personal taste.
The space, the goods, and even the movie tickets are fun to look at one by one. Personally, I’m not the type who prefers the crowded and hectic Seongsu area, but if you make this place your destination, you’ll have an enjoyable visit. However, the theater is very small. The screen is naturally small as well. Since this place focuses on curation and branding, it’s good to keep this in mind.
I think the decision of which movie to watch is up to each individual. Whether to watch a movie set in the place you are currently traveling—even if you can’t understand the language—or to watch a movie you’ve been wanting to see that happens to be released here. That is your choice. It might just be a delightful little dilemma to have.
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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