enater

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!

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!

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.

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

oojason said:

enater said:

I do not know much in terms of the technicalities of film preservation. Should this release be considered for digital archiving and preservation? Does anyone have any additional information on the release? Thanks to all and may the Force be with you!

Welcome to the OT!

Absolutely mate. It is quite a rare release - and as you’ve listed below… there are some intriguing differences with the other similar releases of the time. A preservation project for this unique set would be most welcome. 👍

Wishing you all the best with it.
 

Thanks! I’ll be having a marathon soon to at least make the best possible DVD backup copy to work with.

JadedSkywalker said:

Censored or time compressed so they cut some scenes?

CX audio instead of Dolby Stereo also seems odd.

This appears to be its own release. The Hong Kong release is uncut with Cantonese subtitles and is the same master as the US VHS Pan and Scan.

It’s also an officially licensed release. Not a bootleg. Very strange indeed, but this was for the South Korean consumer or rental market I assume.

As far as I know, it was consumer market, but I have not found any official source to confirm this. Here are the entries from the amazing LaserDisc Database:

Star Wars: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/53277/SLC-637F/Star-Wars:-A-New-Hope
The Empire Strikes Back: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/64539/SLC-638F/Star-Wars:-The-Empire-Strikes-Back
Return of the Jedi: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/64540/SLC-639F/Star-Wars:-Return-of-the-Jedi

Continuing with Star Wars as an example, since its running time states that it is 120 mins and there is only 1 disc, I assumed there was time compression. However, I did not see or hear any sign of time compression as the audio is pristine when compared to the time compressed 1982/1983 releases or even the 1992 release.

It seems that the movie was cut into 120 mins by creating an new “version”. Another “shortened” scene is the Rebel’s taking off, it goes directly to Luke and then the starfighters going off planet as “dots” without all the fueling and boarding preparations.

A huge noticeable cut was made in The Empire Strikes Back. It was possibly a result of censorship since almost the entire Dagobah cave scene is trimmed down to the meeting/initial confrontation and the amazed look on Luke’s face after what he sees, but the audience does not actually get to see it.

To the fan that has seen the movie so many times, these differences will definitely be noticeable and pop right out of the screen.

I did not mention it before, but the release has edited scenes and different transitions at some points that alter the original release.

For example, in Star Wars, the homestead scene (when Luke arrives in his landspeeder) first makes a long, slow pan from far left of the screen to finish on the entrance of the homestead. This even seems as if the film was slowed down to allowed for this long pan from left to right. The Cantina scenes are also edited with parts left out.

JadedSkywalker said:

I’d be super grateful if you could do such a preservation.

The Pan and Scan THX master has only been preserved as VHS.

And no one has done the Korean or Hong Kong release.

Also, welcome to OT.

Thank you! 😃

At this time, my only means of digitalizing the LaserDiscs is by using a DVD/VCR Combo and recording as I play the LaserDisc. The Combo allows for recording in DVD.

I have a Pioneer CLD-D503 LaserDisc player connected through S-Video to a Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD/VCR combo recorder. Would this setup be adequate? I’m not very familiar with the process, but I would really like to contribute these releases of the franchise we love so much.

Hi! First of all, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. I have to also say thanks, since I have learned a lot from posts and the preservation initiatives that are works of art, even though I have not been an active member.

I recently purchased the Original Trilogy Korean LaserDisc release, which I believe is from 1995. I was later told that it was actually not that common to see and, upon further researching, there is not much information about it. The release in South Korea was done through Samsung Nices.

The covers use the same artwork by John Alvin as other international releases. Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back have simple covers, while Return of the Jedi has a gatefold. In terms of the movie themselves, they are NTSC and in pan and scan (4:3 / 1.33:1) format. They use different masters with correct 20th Century Fox intros for each movie, different from the last pan and scan release in the USA from 1992. All films are in English, including the opening crawl, with Korean subtitles on the lower part of the screen, over the movie itself.

Star Wars (Simple Cover)
Front:

Back:

The Empire Strikes Back (Simple Cover)
Front:

Back:

Return of the Jedi (Gatefold)
Front:

Back:

Interior:

I do not know much in terms of the technicalities of film preservation. Should this release be considered for digital archiving and preservation? Does anyone have any additional information on the release? Thanks to all and may the Force be with you!