Busan Film Festival, Internal Conflict Over Innovation Committee Resolved "Scheduled for October"

Executive Committee and Secretariat: "We Will Revitalize the Organization and Conduct It Well"

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) announced that it has resolved the recent internal conflict and formed an Innovation Committee to focus on hosting this year’s festival.

On the 19th, BIFF stated, "At the 2nd extraordinary general meeting held on the 26th of last month, it was decided that Nam Dong-cheol, the senior programmer, and Kang Seung-ah, the deputy executive director, will act in place of former executive director Heo Mun-young and former operations director Jo Jong-guk." They added, "At the 7th board meeting, the composition and main agenda of the BIFF Innovation Committee were finalized."

[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the 7th meeting held on the 18th, the board appointed seven members to the Innovation Committee: one board member (Nam Song-woo), one representative from Busan Metropolitan City (Kim Ki-hwan), two Busan film industry figures (Kim Yi-seok and Joo Yoo-shin), two Seoul film industry figures (Bang Soon-jung and Ahn Young-jin), and one representative from a Busan civic organization (Park Jae-yul). The formation plan was approved.

BIFF stated, "The internal and external issues surrounding the festival over the past two months have been settled, and the executive team and secretariat are now fully preparing for this year’s festival."

They continued, "Although there remain many wounds and challenges that need to be addressed, we are determined to face and resolve them."

Furthermore, "All members of BIFF’s executive team and secretariat will refocus on the essence of the festival and do their best in their respective roles to ensure that all events proceed smoothly," they said.

The festival also expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the filmmakers and audiences who have shown unwavering affection and interest, and we ask for your continued encouragement and wholehearted support for the successful hosting of the 28th Busan International Film Festival."

Earlier, BIFF established the position of operations director in early May, appointing Jo Jong-guk to the role. Two days after his appointment, executive director Heo Mun-young tendered his resignation, and the festival experienced internal turmoil for two months amid allegations of workplace sexual harassment.

The Busan International Film Festival, scheduled to be held from October 4 to 13, will have senior programmer Nam Dong-cheol acting as executive director.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.