Actor Lee Je-hoon takes to YouTube to document Korea's disappearing movie theaters

Actor Lee Je-hoon embarks on a new journey as a YouTuber with his channel Jehooncine. [JOONGANG ILBO]
Actor Lee Je-hoon has embarked on a new project as a YouTuber, launching a channel called Jehooncine that aims to showcase unique and iconic movie theaters across the country.

With the rise of streaming platforms, theaters — especially small, independently owned ones — have faced a rapid decline, leading to the closure of many historic cinemas in Korea. The channel captures some of the bittersweet stories of closing theater businesses and the slowly fading cinema legacy in the country.

Motivated by successive theater shutdowns, including Daehan Cinema — one of Korea’s oldest theaters and one that stood in Seoul’s Chungmuro neighborhood for 66 years — Lee decided to become a YouTuber to shine a light on unique and charming theaters in the country.

“When I visited New York, I saw old theaters that still used film reels, and it made me so envious,” he said in his first YouTube video uploaded on May 19. “I started this project out of curiosity, wondering if there were similar spaces left in Korea.”

A screen capture from a video of actor Lee Je-hoon on his YouTube channel Jehooncine [SCREEN CAPTURE]
The closures weren’t the only motivation for the 40-year-old actor. As a true cinephile, he felt the project was a return to his roots, recalling his rookie years when he frequently visited theaters like Mirospace, Cinecube in Gwanghwamun and CGV Arthouse in Apgujeong-dong.

For Lee, the theater is a place where he can be “authentically himself,” and he treasures the “cinema culture created together with those he used to watch films with.”

Lee’s passion for cinema also led him to establish a film production company, called Hardcut, in 2019. He made his directorial debut in 2021 with “Unframed” and is currently planning another film project. Additionally, he revealed his dream of one day operating a theater.

Along with his passion for films and theaters, a personal experience also influenced his decision to start a YouTube channel despite his demanding schedule, which includes fan meet-and-greets, filming a tvN variety show and an upcoming JTBC TV series.

Actor Lee Je-hoon embarks on a new journey as a YouTuber with his channel Jehooncine. [JOONGANG ILBO]
In October last year, the actor underwent emergency surgery after being diagnosed with ischemic colitis, which occurs when blood flow to part of the large intestine is temporarily reduced. This experience motivated him even more to begin the project.

“As I signed the consent form and fell asleep under anesthesia, I thought, ‘I should have lived life to the fullest and done everything I wanted,’” he said during a recent interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily at emu Cinema in Jongno District, central Seoul. “As soon as I got back on my feet, I began putting my plans into motion.”

Lee’s YouTube channel has 13 episodes uploaded and has garnered 63,000 subscribers as of Monday. The videos spotlight theaters, cultural landmarks and independent and short film directors and actors.

For his first video, Lee traveled to Wonju, the home of the former Academy Cinema. The Academy Cinema, which opened in 1963, was Korea’s oldest single-screen theater. The venue was demolished in 2022 despite public opposition.

Actor Lee Je-hoon embarks on a new journey as a YouTuber with his channel Jehooncine. [JOONGANG ILBO]
The following are excerpts from the interview, edited for length and clarity.

Q. Why did you decide to make Wonju your first stop?
A. If we had started earlier, we would have been able to document the Wonju Academy Theater, which might have helped keep it open or could have left footage to cherish for those who loved the theater, even if it closed. I can't help but feel a sense of regret.

What do you feel when you see streets with theaters disappearing?

[I noticed that] not only independent theaters but also multiplex cinemas in rural areas are disappearing. I felt a strong sense of crisis, experiencing the decline in new film releases firsthand as an actor.

How do you choose which theaters to visit?

Some places were places that I often went to and some were places that other people had recommended. I try to select a diverse range.

As a person who doesn’t watch animations, I was able to widen my perspective after visiting an independent animation theater and creators in Bucheon, Gyeonggi.

Actor Lee Je-hoon's YouTube channel Jehooncine, which introduces Korean theaters, cultural landmarks and independent and short film directors and actors.

In your videos, you not only explore different areas but also watch independent films and interview independent directors, actors, theater operators and local artists. What’s the reason behind this approach?

I wanted to take some time to discuss and think about what a good film is and how the theaters are established and run.

What is the most memorable theater for you?

For me, it would be Shortrong Cinema, a theater dedicated to short films in Jeju Island, and Moomyung Movie, a small theater made in the attic of a house in Gangneung, Gangwon. It was remarkable seeing them attract an audience with good films in such a small area.

There were a lot of people who had side jobs because it was difficult to operate solely on revenue. I just want to support them — those who simply operate such venues because they love films.

A screen capture from a video of actor Lee Je-hoon on his YouTube channel Jehooncine [SCREEN CAPTURE]
What makes theaters so special to you?

Being an actor, I’m always conscious of how others perceive me. When I feel exhausted, going to the theater allows me to reflect and recharge.

I also learned about life through works made by legendary filmmakers like the Dardenne brothers, Ken Loach, Lee Chang-dong and Hong Sang-soo. Independent films help me see and understand the world from a deeper and broader perspective.

I heard that your goal is to introduce more than 100 theaters. What do you hope for your channel?

We put 20 to 30 times more into production costs than other typical YouTube content. I boldly announced to shoot 100 episodes for Jehooncine to strengthen my determination to keep going despite the expense.

It’s a marathon that could become a lifelong record. I plan to keep doing so while also pursuing my acting career, hoping that when someone looks back on it someday, they’ll feel like ‘that was really something special’ and something that they can relate to.