Beginning May 1, 2011 bases will begin charging for movies. Even though theatergoers will no longer be subsidized, prices at AAFES theaters remain well below the national U.S. average.
Army garrisons in Korea to charge for movie theater admission
By Russell Wicke
IMCOM Korea Public Affairs
YONGSAN GARRISON —Free movies on U.S. Army garrisons in Korea will be a thing of the past May 1 as theaters here join other overseas garrisons by charging for theater admission.
Under current operations, Family Morale Welfare and Recreation funding pays the Army Air Force Exchange Service an admission price of $2.50 for every patron who attends a movie on post –but this funding is no longer available.
Starting May 1, Exchange theater patrons can expect to pay the same standard admission prices for movies at all Exchange Theaters world-wide. Those admission prices are $5 for first-run movies and $4.50 for regular releases. Admission for children 12 years and under will be $2.50 for first runs and $2.25 for regular movies. Repeat showings, which are movies that have been released on DVD, will be $4 for adults and $2 for children, and Special Play movies, such as classics, will be $3 for adults and $1.50 for children.
Ron Buss, FMWR Business Programs chief, suggested these prices remain a generous benefit to patrons when compared to continental U.S.-based garrisons. A goal of FMWR, he said, is to provide Soldiers the things they would have back in the United States. Under these new operating principles, Soldiers will be able to attend the movie theater in Korea at cheaper costs than what they would be paying in the United States.
Although patrons pay similar prices for movies at CONUS garrisons, first-run movies in the United States are not available in CONUS garrisons –they are only available at commercial theaters where prices can exceed $10 for admission. The $5 new release is an overseas benefit only.
Why Charge for Movies?
The decision to charge for movies is necessary to remain fiscally responsible. Like many other governments around the world coping with global recession, Uncle Sam is “on a diet,” said Dan Thompson, IMCOM-Korea Public Affairs officer. The current operating mindset reflects this healthy change. In the past FMWR budgets allowed for free movies in Korea partly because it was affordable at the time. But free admission is no longer feasible due to recent economic hardship, combined with an increase in the Exchange admission fees, Buss said.
Elizabeth Sandoe, Exchange area manager in Korea, said the $2.50 admission price paid by FMWR no longer covers their expenses. And, even when paying Exchange theaters at the lower price, FMWR incurs an annual expense of nearly a million dollars for theater admissions —the budget no longer allows for this expense.
Sandoementioned that admission fees in May still won’t amount to much profit since the majority of admission fees goes to copyright costs for movies. But, she said prices are being kept as low as possible to benefit Service members and their Families. Like other theaters, most of the Exchange operating profits come from items sold at the concession stand.
USFK and IMCOM officials said they agree the policy to charge for theater admission is the right thing for Korea as the Army moves towards tour normalization here.
