South Korean blockbuster 'Gunche' moves to OTT streaming

The high‑budget South Korean film "Gunche"—produced with about 200 billion won and starring stars such as Jun Ji‑hyun under director Yeon Sang‑ho—was originally slated to attract ten million cinema viewers. Facing a slump in theatrical attendance and a surge in online video‑on‑demand consumption, the studio opted for an unprecedented early release on streaming platforms. From May 23, the movie became available on several OTT services including Coupang Play, Wavve, Wave, and Apple TV.

Industry analysts view the shift as a sign of the broader challenges confronting South Korea’s cinema sector, where high‑cost productions are increasingly turning to digital distribution to secure profitability before completing a conventional theatrical run.