KFTV presents
Korea Film Commissions

The Korea Film Commissions & Industry Network
is a federation with regional film commissions, the Korean Film Producers Association, the Korea Drama Production Association,
the Producers Guild of Korea, the Federation of Korea Movie Workers’ Union, etc. as members

Forests, mountains, coasts, and volcanoes; in only a few hours...

Korea’s natural diversity offers something for any of your location needs. Mountains, forests, coasts, and sub-tropic volcanic islands can all be reached in only a few hours.

Seasonal variety offers four distinct aesthetics; spring, summer, fall, and winter are all distinct and beautiful in their own right. Within a two-hour distance from Seoul, you can find old cultural heritage, modern civilisation, dynamic cityscapes, and remote nature. 

A more notable strength compared to other countries is the full support of regional film commissions. Korea houses 14 commissions spread across almost every region of the country. Korea actively provides not only support in location scouting and shooting but also various incentives for foreign audio-visual works. 

Major productions to film in Korea include Apple TV's Pachinko, Netflix's XO KITTY, and the upcoming Butterfly for Prime Video

Your first port of call...

We serve as the first point of contact for foreign production companies that want to film in Korea. Cooperation with regional film commissions and Korean line producers are essential for shooting in Korea.

We have a close network with them and therefore can collect and deliver the appropriate information needed. It is much more efficient for productions to contact us first if possible. In addition, we have experienced staff members who have been working to attract international productions for over 10 years.

Korea's unique filming landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for foreign productions. KFCIN's organisation of local film commissions play a vital role in bridging the gap, fostering collaboration and ensuring a successful and positive filming experience for international filmmakers.

Infrastructure & Incentives

The KOFIC location incentive at the national level provides cash rebates of up to 25% on the filming costs incurred in Korea. You must film in Korea for more than 5 days and spend more than 100 million won. In addition, incentive programs at the regional level can be combined.

Korea has a variety of studios and outdoor film sets in a wide range of sizes and locations, as well as full post-production laboratories, and sound and digital imagery facilities. In the past three or four years, many virtual studios equipped with various types of LED walls have been built, making virtual production possible.

Case Study: Love Like a K-Drama:

Foreign Productions tend to look towards Korea more and more as K- culture arises globally. Local Film Commissions are vital to these foreign projects filming in Korea as they aid in many ways to production such as finance, location, communication, information, law and much more. 

Permits in Korea can be tough and can take more time compared to other territories, especially those occupied by public authorities. Film Commissions play a significant role here for the foreign production, as they are able to support the communication between the production and the local authorities, proving and vouching for the production’s legitimacy for smooth filming in those locations. 

"The recent collaboration between Japan and Korean production, Netflix original show  Love Like a K-Drama has received valuable assistance from the Film Commission. The Daejeon Film Commission provided financial support when filming at the Hannam University in Daejeon. This was great help as the Daejeon was one of the main locations of the series. Not only that, the Daejeon Film Commission also helped in communication over the different parties involved in getting permits for filming around Daejeon." 

Danny Kang from Nine Tailed Fox 

Bridging the gap...

While the allure of breathtaking locations and unique cultural landscapes draws international productions to South Korea, navigating the country's filming system can present challenges. This is where KFCIN helps, connecting productions to local film commissions, playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between foreign filmmakers and Korean regulations and practices.

Unlike many other countries, where permits and extensive coordination are often required for street filming, Korea allows for more flexibility. While this fosters a dynamic domestic film industry, it can be unfamiliar territory for foreign productions accustomed to stricter control over filming environments.

Case Study: XO, KITTY

The recent production of XO, KITTY exemplifies the valuable role of film commissions. Filming a scene at the Misa Station intersection required collaboration with local merchants, pedestrians, the subway station, construction crews, and the police. The Gyeonggi Film Commission provided invaluable support in coordinating with all parties, ensuring a successful shoot and capturing the desired scene.

Overall, as the K-Culture is arising as the new trend, more and more foreign production turn their eyes to Korean locations. Local Korean Film Commissions play a pivotal role here by providing valuable information and various supports, as well as assisting in communication between the foreign production and the local entities involved for smoother and better filming.