What kinds of Korean movie theater memberships are there, and can foreigners join to get discounts?
I am from China and go to Korean movie theaters often, but each ticket at around 15,000 won is a stretch. I would like to understand the membership programs at CGV, Megabox, and Lotte Cinema, and whether foreigners can join.
Also, are telecom membership discounts, credit card movie deals, and student rates available to foreigners?
1 Answer
If you go often, the trick is combining a membership with telecom discounts. CGV uses CJ ONE, Megabox has its own membership, and Lotte Cinema uses L.POINT for points and discounts, and foreigners can join with an ARC or phone number. Honestly, almost nobody pays the full 15,000 won, because the telecom membership discount is the biggest lever. Depending on your KT, SKT, or LG U+ membership tier, you get discounts or free bookings on movie tickets, and many credit cards include movie discounts too. In the apps, early-morning and late-night showings are cheaper, and on Culture Day (the last Wednesday of each month) you can watch for around 6,000 to 7,000 won. Student discounts usually require a Korean school student ID, so if you are an international student here you can get them with your student ID. I would start by checking your telecom membership tier.