한국영상문화학회

The 1960s were a period of significant change within the Korean film industry due to the enactment and amendment of the film laws. As government interference in the film industry strengthened, film production companies and importers responded swiftly to the need to generate profits. In this article, a total of 730 foreign films screened in Korea from 1961 to 1970 were compiled. By comparing the titles of these films with their Japanese counterparts at the time of screening, I revealed that 324 films had similar or identical titles, accounting for more than 40% of the total, indicating a significant level of similarity. The translation of film titles ultimately serves the purpose of advertising through movie ticket marketing. Considering the fact that most foreign films were imported through Japan, it can be inferred that Korean titles were translated based on Japanese sentiments and social atmosphere before undergoing another translation process in Korea. Three possibilities were considered regarding the similarity in titles of foreign films screened in both countries. One possibility is that it was an intended outcome by importers to attract audiences. Another possibility is that it was a common practice among importers to quickly acquire foreign films expected to succeed commercially. The last one is that key figures in the film industry in Korea was influenced by Japan, following its knowledge, thoughts, and trends regarding films. Despite the sharp political confrontation and conflicts during the tumultuous 1960s between Japan and Korea, a surprisingly high level of similarity was observed in the titles of foreign films displayed in theaters. Exploring the hidden reasons behind this phenomenon enabled the discovery of interactions among the government, film industry, theaters, and the public, all aimed at advancing the film industry.