Film Reference Library (Sangam Branch)

General Information

Korean Name: 한국영상자료원
Address: Korean Film Archive 1602, DMC, Sangam-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul, 120-270 Korea
Korean Address: 서울특별시 마포구 상암동 DMC단지 1602 문화콘텐츠센터 한국영상자료원 (121-270)
Phone Number: 82-(0)2-3153-2001
Fax Number: 82-(0)2-3153-2080
Email Address: kofa AT koreafilm.or.kr
Online: http://www.koreafilm.org/main/main.asp
Korean Webpage: http://www.koreafilm.or.kr/main/main.asp
Movie Database Search (English): http://www.koreafilm.org/english/db_sch02.asp (See Below)
Library Database Search: http://www.koreafilm.or.kr/library/search.asp (See Below)
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Times: Mon-Fr 10-19 Sat, Sun 10-17
Closed: Closed on national holidays
Information Last Confirmed: August 19th, 2007

Directions

Maps are available online, but not terribly useful in orienting yourself when you come out of the subway:

http://www.koreafilm.org/kofa/visitingus.asp (English)
http://www.koreafilm.or.kr/introduce/contactus.asp (Korean)

To get to the main (Sangam) branch of the Korean Film Archive take subway line 6 to Susaek (수색) station and take exit 2. The building which houses the Film Archive is actually visible to the distant southwest but takes about 15 minutes to reach by foot. When you emerge from exit 2 walk towards the south (straight as you come out). You will come to an intersection. You should see a large soccer ball suspended above the ground across the intersection.

At this intersection turn right and walk to the West towards the area known as the DMC (the Digital Media City) which consists of various modern looking buildings on the right hand side. The building is diagonally across an intersection from building 501 of the Sangam World Cup Park apartment complex.

When you see the 501 apartment complex building on the left opposite side of an intersection you have gone far enough and turn right. You are within a few dozen meters of the archive. Also visible from that same intersection you should see a school on the left side of the road, a small Family Mart convenience store a little short of the intersection on the left side of the road and further down the road on the right hand side is another large modern building with animated graphics visible on the buildings side wall. You know you have walked too far is you pass this animated building. The building on the right side where you make the right turn has a long diagonal line across its eastern side and part of the structure is held up with large pillars. It also has a sky bridge. When you have turned right and walked a few dozen meters you will see the building which houses the film archive on the right hand side. The building is called the Cultural Contents Center (문화콘텐츠센터).

Enter the building's main entrance and turn right. You will see a set of doors leading to an elevator which will take you to the Film Reference Library which is located on the second floor (Note: Not the 4th floor, which is deceptively labeled "Film Archive" but which simply leads to the administrative offices of the archive).

Bus Routes: From Yonsei University: 171 From Worldcup stadium subway station (gate 3, line 6) 171, 7711. From Hongik University subway station (gate 2 line 2) 7711. Other bus routes which go by: 7715, 172, 7715, 7013, and 7016

Usage

Put any large bags you bring with you in the free lockers located to the right as you enter the library. Keys are found on the counter next to the security gate. Sign in as you enter the library. As you enter you will see movie booths for individuals to your left, and along the wall you are facing are movie booths for two people to watch a movie together. There is also a photocopy machine. A circular table of computers allows you to search the library's collection (using a slightly better interface with more advanced search options than that which is provided on the online searchable database). Some computers also provide access to the KMDb web site.

A rack of film magazines are located to the right, with more magazines along the wall to the right further in the library. Behind the magazines are a few rows of bookshelves containing film related books of various topics.

Beyond the books are half a dozen or so rows of bookshelves which have "Scenarios" or film scripts of the various films in hangul order. There are tables for studying, and a few more reference books available on the wall to the right.

If you find a movie you wish to watch in the database right down the movie's name and its number. Movies are often available on DVD, but this will be indicated in the database. For best results when searching for Korean movies, use the advanced search to limit the search to movies from Korea. You can also search by a range of years, the director, etc.

At the main counter write down the movie name and number that you wish to watch along with your own name. The attendant will retrieve the movie for you and direct you to the viewing booths.

Facilities

Card Catalogs: You can search the library collection via several computers inside the library and online (See database link above)
Computers: There are half a dozen computers for searching the library database and the Kmdb website inside. The "resting room" outside the security gate has two computers with internet access for general use.
Reading Room: There are a few wide tables where you can study comfortably.
Photocopy Machines: There is a single photocopy machine directly ahead of the security gate. A warning sign notes that copyright laws restrict copies to a maximum of 1/3 of any work.
Photocopy Prices: 40 won per copy in any size (2007.8)
Bathrooms: Located in the hall near the entrance.
Vending Machines: Drink vending machine in the hall.
Nearby Food: There is a convenience store located in the building lobby on the 1st floor (closed Sundays). Across the main street there are a Family Mart convenience store and a Tous Les Jours bakery.

Collections of Note

Classic Korean movies and colonial period movies available on DVD and some on video cassette.
Excellent collection of Korean film related books, magazines, reference works
Large collection of film scripts

Other Notes, Comments and Experiences

I was surprised to see how well even the very old movies have been put together for the archive. The DVD that contained the old the movie I saw (자유만세) not only had a range of special features including an introduction, film critique, movie stills, movie poster, biographical sketches of director and actors, etc. but also had both English and Korean subtitles. The attendants were helpful, even correcting a spelling mistake in my movie request. There was an interesting collection of books on North Korean movies. I had some trouble locating some of the film scripts by going directly to the shelves so it may be better to search for the movie first in the database. The film archive also seems to have movie showings regularly and currently even have showings with English subtitles on Wednesdays. When I visited the archive the building which houses it doesn't seem to be quite finished. The entire area around the film archive seems under construction. (Kmlawson Last Visited: 2007.8.19)

Korean Film Archive