Korea's 81% emergency funding increase to $108 million aims to save domestic cinema from its "worst crisis in decades," but Wave Films questions whether government money addresses the real problem. The core issue isn't lack of funding—it's a deadly budget gap between $500K-$5M where films struggle to recoup costs, especially dramas relying on domestic appeal. Korea's annual film production in this range dropped from 100 films to just 20 in 2024. While strategic funding could help bridge this gap for quality projects with international appeal, the solution requires working with market realities rather than fighting them. Success depends on focusing on viable genres, developing stories with global potential, and avoiding the middle budget tier unless concepts are exceptionally strong.