The number of theater-goers in 2008 increased from the previous year despite the recession. Online ticket-seller Interpark INT on Tuesday said it sold a total of 4.12 million tickets last year, up 30 percent from 3,18 million in 2007.

Takings also went up by 36 percent from W143.5 billion (US$1=W1,352) in 2007 to W195.7 billion in 2008. Interpark INT has a 60 percent market share, indicating that the whole market is worth over W320 billion.

Five out of 10 theater-goers, or 48 percent, went to see musicals, accounting for about 2 million people. Pop concerts attracted 870,000 people, plays 810,000, and classical music concerts 340,000. Sales of musical tickets surpassed the W100 billion mark for the first time, amassing W100.5 billion. Sales of tickets for plays jumped by 63 percent. Men accounted for 38 percent of the audience, up 3 percent from 35 percent in 2007.

The proportion of audiences in their 40s went up 1 percent and that of those in their 50s 3 percent. The number of matinee performances in 2008 was 859, up 100 from 2007. The number of middle-aged theater-goers led by housewives is increasing, Interpark said.