• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.3 s.114
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• pp.245-266
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• 2006

This study aims to explain the emergence of Gangnam Region of Seoul as a new cluster of the Korean film industry in the context of its history of growth, recent development characteristics, and its production system. Statistical analyses of Korean industries and in-depth interview surveys to film producers were conducted. The results of the analyses show that there has been obvious tendency of film makers' move from Chungmuro, a traditional cluster of the Korean film industry, to Gangnam and many births of new film makers in Gangnam. This new cluster, however, is operating on informal networking between film makers and related personnel, not on formalized production system composed of specialized functions and labor market. Therefore, it can be called as loosely-articulated cluster. This form of cluster has much to do with production milieu of Gangnam, such as advantages of obtaining information and consumer trend, diverse atmosphere which makes it easier to meet diverse people, favorable environment to embed creativity and fresh idea, etc. This trend of the film industry to orient a specific area can be explained in conjunction with the uniqueness of the film industry, such as uncertainty, project-based work, generation gap between film makers, participation of large companies or increasing size of investment.