Cost Estimation Services

Cost estimation for global shoots in South Korea turns a creative drive into a budget you can defend, one rooted in the real economics of the Korean market. Our analysts work from today's crew rates set by Korean industry norms, plus gear pricing from suppliers in The DMC hub and Paju. Location fees track the rate cards of the Seoul Film Commission, the Busan Film Commission, and the Jeju Film Commission.

We model the KOFIC location incentive, the cash rebate scheme that returns up to twenty-five percent of qualifying spend on global projects. Our team maps it alongside the Korean Film Promotion Fund routes and the regional incentive programmes run by KOCCA. Budgets cover studio days at CJ ENM Studios, Lotte Studios, the Namyangju Studio Tricky, and the Busan Cinema Center. They show the true cost of filming in places as varied as Gangnam streets, hanok villages, royal palaces, and the volcanic landscapes of Jeju.

Our process starts with a script breakdown, which we weigh against the locations and schedule a Korean shoot will need. Each line is benchmarked against data from past shoots, then we run best-case, worst-case, and realistic scenarios. From there we surface savings. These come from maxing out KOFIC rebates, choosing well between studio and location, and bundling supplier deals across the Paju and The DMC hub base.

Estimates arrive within twenty-four hours for standard projects. They run several pages, covering above-the-line and below-the-line spend, spares, and FX exposure on yen, dollar, and euro payments. Once production starts, live cost tracking runs beside the shoot and flags variance early, so the line producer can rebalance before overruns pile up. The result is the clear money picture that global commissioners want before they greenlight a Korean shoot.

Every estimate carries the permit and compliance costs a Korean shoot really faces. We price street permits from the Seoul and Busan Film Commissions, access fees at Korea Heritage Service sites, and the lead-time cost of Ministry of National Defense clearance near the DMZ. Drone work adds MOLIT airspace handling. KOSHA-driven set-safety provision, insurance, and on-set medical cover all sit on their own lines, so producers see the true cost of filming legally and safely.

We also model the cash-flow shape, not just the headline total. The estimate sets out the 10% VAT, withholding on overseas payments, and the timing of when KOFIC rebate money actually returns after qualifying spend. Milestone payments to studios, crew, and vendors are scheduled against the shoot calendar. We flag where currency moves on dollar, euro, or yen could bite, so global financiers can plan deposits and drawdowns with a clear view of the Won-based commitments.