The UK's Carlton International has closed a string of video and DVD sales in South Korea and Thailand ahead of this month's Pusan market.

In South Korea, Ally Entertainment has licensed 19 classic Rank and ITC catalogue titles from Carlton's Film Collection, including Steve Kloves' The Fabulous Baker Boys and Gus Van Sant's To Die For.

Thailand's IVS, which regularly licences Rank and ITC titles, has licensed 50 titles, including Rank's Raise The Titanic and Carlton America's Drug Wars: The Camarena Story.

According to Carlton, Thailand's ST Video, which licenses around 15 new TV movies per year, has indicated a strong interest in the classic Carlton film titles. Thai media concern Mangpong is also looking at the company's new television drama and library titles after licensing Carlton International's A Line In The Sand, starring UK TV star Ross Kemp.

"Thailand, in particular, presently offers a very competitive market place, and we are working closely with out partners to ensure the successful release of all titles," Rochelle Butler, Carlton International's video executive for the territories, said. "In both territories, we regularly co-ordinate releases on VCD, which appear to be the growth medium in the marketplace."