Why are so many Korean films cat III?

[ASaroch]

I was a bit baffled looking at Yesasia and seeing the sheer amount of HK releases of Korean films that get cat III ratings and wondered why. Semmingly inoccuous films like 'Paju', 'Mother' and a host of others get the most severe rating, but there are quite a few tough HK fims that only get cat II. Is it language or content?

[Charlie Parker]

I know Rebellion had to be cut for language last year, Korean cinema (shibash!) is foul mouthed compared to HK but that's a stab in the dark.

Paju apparently has graphic accident sequences and scenes of civil unrest, is mother about child murder? Maybe down to themes? There was a film in 2008 about child abuse that was not explicit in anyway but got III rating.

[monkeyboy]

I would guess it was down to Mother China's rather oppresive stance on language and themes filtering their way into the film ratings system.