How do movie theaters work in Korea?

Korea's movie theater scene is excellent, and the big three chains are CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox, with a location in almost every neighborhood and mall. The most important thing for foreigners is that Hollywood and other foreign films are shown in their original language with Korean subtitles, not dubbed (except children's animations, which often have both versions, so check the label: 자막 means subtitled, 더빙 means dubbed). Korean films are usually in Korean without English subtitles, though some theaters occasionally offer subtitled screenings for popular titles. Seating is assigned when you book. Tickets run around 14,000 to 15,000 won, with cheaper early-morning rates and card or membership discounts.

The differences between the chains are mostly premium formats: CGV is known for 4DX (moving seats, wind, water), ScreenX (three-wall panoramic), and IMAX; Megabox has strong sound and its own premium halls; and Lotte Cinema offers Super Plex and Dolby. Booking is easiest through each chain's app, but the English support is limited, so many foreigners use the touchscreen kiosks at the theater (some have an English menu) or book through Naver. A few local notes: theaters sell caramel popcorn and dried squid, latecomers are still seated, and the credits sometimes hide extra scenes so locals stay. For a Korean blockbuster, an IMAX or big premium hall at a flagship CGV or Megabox is worth it.