Rating the Content of Hallyuwood
The Korea Media Rating Board (영상물등급위원회) is a public organization under the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is the sole authority responsible for reviewing and assigning age-based ratings to nearly all media publicly distributed in South Korea, including domestic and foreign films, videos, and video games. Given the global influence of the South Korean entertainment industry (the ‘Korean Wave’ or ‘Hallyu’), the KMRB’s decisions play a significant role in shaping the content that is seen both domestically and internationally.
The South Korean Rating System
The KMRB uses a five-tier system to classify films for theatrical release:
| Rating | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ALL | 전체관람가 | Suitable for all audiences. |
| 12 | 12세이상관람가 | Suitable for ages 12 and up. Children under 12 may be admitted with a parent. |
| 15 | 15세이상관람가 | Suitable for ages 15 and up. Children under 15 may be admitted with a parent. |
| 19 | 청소년관람불가 | Prohibited for persons under 19. (Formerly known as R-18). |
| R | 제한상영가 | Restricted screening. These films can only be shown in designated adult-only theaters. |
This ‘Restricted’ rating is particularly severe, as the lack of dedicated adult theaters in South Korea means an ‘R’ rating can function as an effective ban on the film, severely limiting its commercial viability. The board’s decisions, especially concerning political themes or extreme content, are frequently subjects of public discussion.