Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has reported that the nation's total admissions for 2008 came to 149.18 million, down 5.3% year-on-year according to in-house tallies which are based on reported figures and estimates.

CJ CGV put the local market share at 42.5%, down 8.3% from last year.

Total admissions for local films were 63.43 million, down 20.7% from last year, while total admissions for foreign films went up 10.6% to 85.75 million.

Kim Jee-woon's Oriental Western The Good, The Bad, The Weird led the box office with 6.85 million tickets sold - a respectable but not a spectacular score for the year's most anticipated film; while Na Hong-jin's unexpected serial killer hit took number two with 5.13 million admissions.

Musical Mamma Mia! took in audiences to the tune of 4.6 million admissions while Kung Fu Panda took in 4.59 million.

Director Kang Woo-suk proved he is best when teaming with Jang Jin's scriptwriting, and made a comeback with witty and gritty cop drama Public Enemy Returns at number five.

Lotte Entertainment's Overspeed Scandal, released Dec 4, placed number six with 4.31 million admissions. The sleeper hit is currently at number two at the box office with 5.14 million admissions according to KOFIC.

It's worth noting that last year, the exhibitor's year-end total of 157.5 million differed from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC)'s total of 158.8 million. CJ CGV figures said the total had gone down 5.5% while KOFIC said the market was up 3.5%.

South Korea's official year-end tally from KOFIC, based on its automated ticketing system, is due out later this month with comprehensive data and analysis including gross figures and distributor market share.

South Korea Top Ten 2008:

(title/country/distributor/admissions)

1. The Good, The Bad, The Weird (Korea) CJ Ent - 6.85 million

2. The Chaser (Korea) Showbox Mediaplex - 5.13 million

3. Mamma Mia! (US/UK) UPI - 4.6 million

4. Kung Fu Panda (US) CJ Entertainment - 4.59 million

5. Public Enemy Returns (Korea) CJ Entertainment - 4.43 million

6. Overspeed Scandal (Korea) Lotte Entertainment - 4.31 million

7. The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (US/Ger/Can) UPI - 4.19 million

8. Iron Man (US) CJ Entertainment - 4.17 million

9. Forever The Moment (Korea) Sidus FNH - 4.08 million

10. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (US) CJ Ent - 4 million

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