Lee Yong-gwan, Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, Announces Resignation

Approval of the Proposal to Dismiss Chairman Jo Jong-guk from the Steering Committee

Lee Yong-gwan, chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, is stepping down from his position. On the afternoon of the 26th, at the second extraordinary general meeting of the Busan International Film Festival held at the BIFF Hill in the Busan Cinema Center, he expressed his intention to take responsibility for the recent unfortunate incidents.

Former Executive Chairman Lee Yong-kwan of the Busan International Film Festival

At a press conference on the 15th of last month, Chairman Lee stated, "I will prepare to ensure that this year's festival proceeds without any issues and then step down." However, as the resolution of the situation was delayed and pressure for his resignation from the film industry continued, he ultimately decided to resign early. The Busan International Film Festival board and executive committee said, "We requested that he fulfill his duties until the conclusion of this year's festival, but it seems he judged that even this would be difficult to carry out." They added, "He pleaded to protect the festival with a steadfast attitude that is not swayed by external pressure and to safeguard the secretariat staff."

Meanwhile, at the first extraordinary general meeting held in May, the motion to dismiss Jo Jong-guk, the operations committee chairman, was passed with sixteen votes in favor and twelve against. Additionally, following the resignation of former executive chairman Heo Mun-young and the dismissal of operations committee chairman Jo, the regulations for the acting leadership system were revised, bringing the Busan International Film Festival crisis, which had been sparked by personnel conflicts, into a phase of resolution. The vacancy left by former executive chairman Heo will be filled by senior programmer Nam Dong-cheol, and the vacancy left by former operations committee chairman Jo will be filled by deputy executive chairman Kang Seung-ah, respectively.

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