Korean Job Discussion Forums

mokpochica · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

I bought some DVDs for class use while I was in the U.S. over winter break. I tried to use one of them in class yesterday, but had some problems with it.

My question: Is the DVD system in the U.S. and Canada different than Korea's system? Can I use those DVD's that I bought at home here?

It's possible that the player was just being finicky because I've had some problems with Korean DVDs on it too.

brad_stephenssmith · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: San Diego, California, USA

Welcome to the wild and wacky world of DVD regions. The short answer to your question is: "yes, there is an important difference between DVD players in the US/Ca and other countries".

A little more detail: You have probably noticed that American movies come out abroad much later than they do in the States. Well, because of the international market for DVDs the movie industry was concerned that ticket sales abroad would be hurt if people could buy the DVD of a film before it came out in the theaters in their country. Thus the advent os waht we call 'regional encoding'. Simply put, your American DVD player is most likely a region 1 player that plays region 1 disks. Your korean DVD player is a region 5 player that will only play region 5 disks (see http://www.dvdadept.com/DVD_Regions.asp for more info). In short, I'm afraid you're out of luck unless you can get ahold of one of the following:

A 'regionless' DVD player. The industry frowns upon it, but they do exist!
A computer with a DVD-Rom drive. I don't know the details but I believe you can get DVD playing software that ignores regions.

Here's hoping this has been of some use!
--Brad

Dan · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

ugh, regions.

only a few chinese player models are regionless, or you can hack a laptop. i did

kimcheeking · Guest

Dan · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

why do you know so much more about korea than i do :/

thanks for the info. but i thought regionless dvd players were illegal?

denz · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 6:35 pm Post subject: yesh well

dan, this is korea!

what is "illegal"? if you follow me ;)

denz

mokpochica · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

There is a computer in the same room that has a DVD rom player, so it sounds like I might be able to use those DVDs without too much hassle.

If not, Kimcheeking...you said they could fix it for me at Yongsan? So I was wondering where and how...and for how much money?

And even if I can't ever use the DVDs, I thank you all for letting me know the scoop so I didn't frustrate myself further.

kimcheeking · Guest

I'm not sure exactly... haven't done it myself a friend told me. As far as I know region free players are not illegal, another friend of mine bought one in the states.

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

mokpochica · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

I misunderstood. I thought they could do something to the DVDs themselves. I can't take the DVD player since it is my school's player. I'll try the computer route though and see if anything can be done that way,

denz · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 8:03 pm Post subject: yesh well

not sure if this applies or helps, but i know that you can get a CD for the PSX2 that you insert into the playtstation (which also plays DVDs) This CD overrides the regional security on the PSX2 and then allows you to play DVDs from any region.

anyone know of anything similar for a standard DVD player?

denz

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

If your DVD player is inside your computer, it might be either hardware or software based coding. If it is software-based (as in my LG DVD Rom I bought in the USA and brought here) you can go to www.downloads.com and download a free program called, "DVD GENIE" which will remove the coding.

Good luck

rasta man · Guest

BTW whats a regionless DVD player running these days or can I get a region 1 player? I have a bunch for my notebook pc but want to play them on my tv bigger screen et al

Captain Obvious 2.0 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

gajackson1 · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:35 pm Post subject:

Of the above solutions (all are valid/excellent suggestions), Derrek's sounds like it will suit you best (really, for anyone with a comp).

Personnaly, I think anyone wishing to buy a DVD player (not comp drive) should get a regionless one, or go ahead and have it modded immediately. Just too much cool stuff out there to be region limited.

I have an X-box coming from the states, & that is the FIRST of several mods for the lil bugger.

G.

PS ~ Denz, you know better!!! If everything in Korea was legal, Felix wouldn't still be paying off that settlement to that Irate Korean sheep farmer!