Weekend moviegoers double thanks to discount event SEOUL , June 9 ( Yonhap ) -- The number of weekend moviegoers in South Korea more than doubled from a week earlier thanks to a government - led discount event , raising hopes for a turnaround for the film industry hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic , data showed Tuesday . The number of moviegoers from Saturday to Sunday reached 316 , 929 , up sharply from the 152 , 284 tallied a week ago , according to the Korean Film Council ( KOFIC ) . It marked the highest weekend figure since the tally of 506 , 000 on Feb . 22 - 23 , amidst the mass COVID - 19 outbreak in Daegu . The sharp on - week increase was attributed to the discount coupon event by KOFIC , as part of the South Korean government ' s 17 billion won ( US $ 13 . 8 million ) fund to support the coronavirus - hit film industry . Starting Thursday , the coupons offer a 6 , 000 - won discount for an average 12 , 000 - won movie ticket . Still , the figure for last week represented a meager one - seventh of the tally of 2 . 35 million from the second week of June 2020 . A poster for director Yeon Sang - ho ' s new zombie film " Peninsula , " provided by NEW ( PHOTO NOT FOR SALE ) ( Yonhap ) As people were told to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus , local movie theaters , including industry leader CJ CGV , have undergone difficult times , while dozens of domestic and foreign films have postponed premieres . The monthly number of moviegoers plunged to a record low in April . While the country is seeing outbreaks emerge in and around the greater Seoul metropolitan area , the film industry is preparing for the summer peak season , with major films slated to open this summer despite the unfavorable conditions . Director Yeon Sang - ho ' s " Peninsula , " which was invited to this year ' s Cannes Film Festival , will be shown in early July . Starring Gang Dong - won and Lee Jung - hyun , the sequel to the smash hit zombie thriller " Train to Busan " ( 2016 ) is one of the most anticipated tent poles for the summer . The upcoming action film " Deliver Us From Evil , " by Cannes - invited director Hong Won - chan , will also premiere next month , while the high - budget space opera " Space Sweepers , " starring Song Joong - ki and Kim Tae - ri , is also set to be released this summer . brk @ yna . co . kr ( END )