Star Wars Korean LaserDiscs Preservation - Released

Hi! I recently completed transferring the Star Wars Korean LaserDisc Trilogy into DVD. I have also created “bin” files for the 4 DVDs that contain the full movies: Star Wars (1), Empire (1), and ROTJ (2).

Even when Star Wars and ESB are shortened to fit in a single disc, they are not time compressed, but mostly have parts edited or shortened. For example, in Star Wars, the Rebels launch is almost entirely cut, skipping the fueling and getting the fighters ready to go, and going directly to Luke and the actual launch. In ESB, as another example, the credits just suddenly stop as the disc runs out.

Since I do not have much experience on these preservation efforts, it would be a shame that these are not preserved adequately. Any tips, direction or assistance would be great. I would love to be able to share this very particular release with other fans.

Star-Wars-Korean-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

The-Empire-Strikes-Back-Korean-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

Return-of-the-Jedi-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

JadedSkywalker said:

Welcome back. I’m looking forward to what you’ve discovered.

I’m also super excited for Indiana Jones if you ever get around to it.

I just pulled out my Hong Kong Return of the Jedi disc and Temple of Doom Korean. Indiana Jones would go into other preservations and fan projects. I’m just talking about foreign releases in general and their unknown qualities.

I’m having problems with my player at the moment though.

I think ROTJ should be uncut in the HK release. It has a nice pan and scan transfer, very good THX deluxe digital LPCM audio. I have to watch the entire film and take notes though.

And Re: the Technidiscs i don’t want to derail your thread. But would like to hear your opinion on them.

The Technidisc releases from 1993/1994 are very interesting. There is so much legend and myth around them.

From what I have seen after watching a 1989 Pioneer Japan and a 1994 Technidisc, Star Wars is actually a different master. The 1992 Mitsubishi Special Widescreen Edition release and the 1989 Pioneer USA and Japan are noticeably different. The Technidisc Star Wars is visually cleaner and the colors are better, in my opinion.

The Technidisc master for Star Wars is very similar to the one used for the Special Edition in terms of what you can see on screen. The 1989 and 1992 Mitsubishi look more like The Definitive Collection.

You can see these sceenshots I took from the same Tractor Beam scene where the C-3PO lines are present or missing. Look at the sides and you will notice the differences in just this one shot. All were taken using the same settings and equipment, so you can notice the differences and similarities between them:

1989-Pioneer-Japan.png

1992-Technidisc.png

1993-The-Definitive-Collection.png

1995-Faces.png

1997-Special-Edition.png

Compare of 1989 / 1994: Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-5-30-24-PM.png

You can clearly also notice the “shrinking” ratio on the 1989 that is fixed on the Technidisc.

I have not been able to confirm differences in ESB or ROTJ. They both seem very similar, but cannot discard the possibility. Star Wars is just so evident from the start.

JadedSkywalker said:

This preservation is fantastic you are a real gem.

I watched some of Return of the Jedi are we sure this is even the THX master.

I know the Hong Kong is, wouldn’t it be weird if this was an earlier master.

It does not have the THX logos and no Leonard Maltin. What a find.

Glad you have enjoyed it as much as I have! 😄 The release is certainly different for all 3 movies.

I was doing a ROTJ re-watch and the Lapti Nek scene is noticeably cut. Since ROTJ is the only in the Trilogy to be in 2 discs, I believe censorship could be the only reason.

You just keep noticing differences and it’s so cool!

enater said:

Hi! I recently completed transferring the Star Wars Korean LaserDisc Trilogy into DVD. I have also created “bin” files for the 4 DVDs that contain the full movies: Star Wars (1), Empire (1), and ROTJ (2).

Even when Star Wars and ESB are shortened to fit in a single disc, they are not time compressed, but mostly have parts edited or shortened. For example, in Star Wars, the Rebels launch is almost entirely cut, skipping the fueling and getting the fighters ready to go, and going directly to Luke and the actual launch. In ESB, as another example, the credits just suddenly stop as the disc runs out.

Since I do not have much experience on these preservation efforts, it would be a shame that these are not preserved adequately. Any tips, direction or assistance would be great. I would love to be able to share this very particular release with other fans.

Star-Wars-Korean-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

The-Empire-Strikes-Back-Korean-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

Return-of-the-Jedi-Laserdisc-Cover-Front.jpg

Hi everyone!

I’m excited to share that the Korean LaserDisc preservation of the Star Wars Trilogy is now complete and available. Thanks to the invaluable assistance of ooJason, the set is listed in the forum’s master thread: 📍 250+ Original Trilogy Preservations 📍 (Pan & Scan | 13 GB total | ISO or MKV).

Technical Details:

• Title: droid1138 1995 Original Trilogy Korean LaserDisc Preservation
• Source: Korean Star Wars LaserDisc Trilogy
• LD Player: Pioneer CLD-D503
• Capture: S-Video → Samsung DVD/VCR recorder (DVD-VR357)
• Audio: Stereo RCA into the DVD/VCR recorder
• Format: Pan & Scan
• File Size: 13 GB Total
• File Types: ISO or MKV

The Samsung recorder’s digital output let me bridge the analog LD signal to modern equipment while capturing clean video and audio. It also helps as a means to connect the LD Player to the TV, as this DVD/VCR model has an HDMI port and Optical Out. Enjoy and MTFBWY!

All credit and kudos to you, mate. That is one impressive and very rare 1995 release you have preserved. 👍

I’m very much looking forward to sitting down and watching it this weekend.

Also, there is always something special about the cover art used - it just looks ‘so right’ on a laserdisc style format.
 

 
A quality write up for this project, too.