The Beat February 2003

Traffic accidents decrease

Gyeongnam Regional Police Headquarters recently reported that 13,660 traffic accidents happened in Gyeongnam area last year, in which 585 people died and 18,789 people were injured.

Compared with 2001 figures for accidents (15,337), traffic accidents decreased 10.9%, and injuries and fatalities also decreased 14% and 10% respectively.

Analyzed by season, winter had the highest fatality rate with 28% (167 traffic fatalities), and summer the least with 21% (124 fatalities). Classified by age, those in their fifties occupied the highest position for fatalities (43%), followed by those aged 40-49 (17%).

Thursday ranked highest for fatalities with 16% (92 deaths), followed by Saturday (15.5%) and Friday (15.3%). There were more deaths from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. than from 6 a.m. to 6p.m.

"Cinema marketing" is booming

With the opening the Lotte Cinema in June of 2001, Lotte Department Store kicked off its new marketing concept -- "cinema + shopping" -- for the first time in Busan. In the second step, Lotte will build a theater in its Dongnae branch. Construction will start in July.

Distribution industries reported on January 15th that magnet theaters in their malls (called "multi-entertainment malls") extended their sales from 2001.

Lotte Cinema opened 11 screens with 2,233 seats on its 10th floor. More than 1,000 people visited Lotte cinema in a day. Restaurants on the 9th floor, also reported sales increases from 50% to 100%. On the 7th floor, Multi-Plaza, boosted by young cinemagoers, also expanded their sales up to 38%.

Migliore, the fashion shopping mall, attracted "Mega Box" in September of 2001. It cannot yet estimate overall sales figures, but shopping bag sales increased from 359,000 to 449,000 per month. Parked cars also increased form 66,000 to 87,000 per month.

Sfunz also lured Mega Box in November of 2002. More than 10,000 people visited their theater on weekends (5,000 on weekdays). Theaters were 80% full on weekends and 40% on weekdays. A new building is expected to be built at the outdoor parking site of Lotte Dongnae branch by 2005. This building will consist of Lotte Mart (1st to 2nd floor), a parking lot (3rd to 8th floor) and Lotte Cinema (9th to 10th floor).