South Korea's film exports are continuing their upward climb from last year.

According to the Korean Film Council, South Korean firms have signed 37 million dollars worth of contracts for the distribution of local films in foreign markets so far this year. The record figure exceeds the 31 million dollars worth inked for all of last year.

The Korea International Trade Association said especially notable were the prices won by local blockbusters "Silmido" and "Taegukgi" for distribution in Japan. Each sold at more than three million dollars, the highest amounts paid for a South Korean film to screen in the Japanese market.

The proportion of films going to countries other than the eight main importers of South Korean films - the United States, Germany, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, France, Taiwan and Japan - increased to almost 27 percent from 12 percent in 2001.