Filmmakers including Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook Unite in Calling for President Yoon's Resignation

3,007 Actors and Directors Participate
Yeouido → SNS 'Candlelight Support'

Director Bong Joon-ho. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

Filmmakers including director Bong Joon-ho and actress Moon So-ri have issued a statement demanding the suspension, dismissal, and arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

The "Filmmakers United for Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation," consisting of 81 organizations including the Korean Film Producers Guild (PGK), the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK), and the Women Filmmakers Association, as well as 3,007 individuals, released an urgent statement on the 8th titled "Dismiss and Arrest Yoon Seok-yeol, a Felon of Treason." The filmmakers declared, "Yoon Seok-yeol is no longer the president to the filmmakers of the Republic of Korea. He is merely a felon of treason in the act. Immediately suspend his presidential duties, dismiss him, and arrest him."

They continued, "The status of Hallyu, which was busy being promoted as an achievement of the administration, has plummeted," and added, "There have been continuous reports from Korean citizens about being refused foreign currency exchange." They argued, "The primary prerequisite to overcoming the current chaotic situation and restoring the fallen status of the Republic of Korea is to suspend Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential duties."

The filmmakers stated, "If impeachment is the fastest way, then impeachment should be chosen, and if there are other ways to dismiss him, the quickest path must be found."

The statement was joined by directors Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Jeong Ji-young, Byun Young-joo, Kim Jo-kwang-su, Jang Joon-hwan, Min Yong-geun, Baek Jae-ho, Bu Ji-young, Yoon Ga-eun, Jang Gun-jae, and actors and directors Moon So-ri, Jo Hyun-chul, Yoon Sung-ho, as well as actors Kim Hye-soo and Go Min-si, among 3,007 filmmakers and audience members.

Citizens watching the presidential address news. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 7th, prior to the vote on the impeachment resolution against President Yoon, 2,518 filmmakers belonging to 77 film organizations issued a first statement. The next day, on the 8th, even more filmmakers participated in signing, and the statement was reissued with 81 organizations and 3,007 signatories.

Director Park Chan-wook said in a phone interview with MBC's "Straight," which covered the December 3 emergency martial law incident, on the 8th, "In the situation before the impeachment vote, it is necessary for even one more person to participate to pressure the People Power Party lawmakers."

Actors are also voicing their opinions on the emergency martial law situation. At the stage greeting for the film "Big Family," Kim Yoon-seok said, "It's cold, and I want to go to the candlelight rally, but I have to do the stage greeting," adding, "It will be a weekend watching how this country turns out."

On the 7th, the day of the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, citizens are urging the impeachment of President Yoon in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Some actors are posting candlelight emojis on social media or attending rallies in front of the National Assembly. Go Min-si posted a message with a candlelight emoji and the time "3 o'clock," when the rally was held, and Ko Ah-sung posted a photo around Yeouido National Assembly, writing, "Not because I hate Korea, but because I need to save Korea."

Lee Dong-wook wrote on his fan platform, "Let's stay strong. Dress warmly in the cold. Spring will surely come." Park Bo-young also wrote on her fan platform, "I hope a warm spring comes." Bong Tae-gyu posted a message saying, "Let's not get tired," along with a candlelight emoji. Additionally, director Byun Young-joo, writer Park Sang-young, and actress Lee El posted related content on social media.

Below is the full urgent statement from [Filmmakers United for Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation]

"Dismiss and Arrest Yoon Seok-yeol, a Felon of Treason!

At 10:22 p.m. on December 3, the sitting president declared emergency martial law, and two and a half hours later, the National Assembly voted to lift the martial law. Two days have passed since then. The illegal and unconstitutional declaration of martial law, the martial law proclamation reminiscent of military dictatorship, the announcement of lifting martial law three hours after the National Assembly vote on the premise that the quorum was not met in the State Council meeting, and a series of processes that make one doubt whether the executive system is functioning properly?on top of these, on December 4, absurd reports followed that the reason for Yoon Seok-yeol’s martial law declaration was to send a warning message to the opposition party.

"Are they sane?" "Are they crazy?" These were the first reactions of most citizens witnessing the martial law declaration. Filmmakers are no different. What cannot be understood by common sense or humanities knowledge, and what would be mere delusion even with cinematic imagination, has happened in reality. Any citizen with common sense would naturally conclude even before legal judgment: "The greatest threat to the existence of the Republic of Korea is Yoon Seok-yeol, and removing him from the presidency is the most urgent task to protect the democratic republic."

Most embassies that have diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea are warning their nationals residing in or visiting Korea of the "danger," and they maintain these warnings despite the lifting of martial law. This is because the risk posed by Yoon Seok-yeol has not been resolved. The status of Hallyu, which was busy being promoted as an achievement of the administration, has plummeted. Foreign media, which pointed out that the growth of Korean democracy and freedom of expression are the greatest foundations for the growth of culture and arts, are reporting daily, predicting the decline of Korea’s image and a decrease in visitors. Voices of concern for the safety of Korean "artists" they admire are also rising, and there have been continuous reports from Korean citizens about being refused foreign currency exchange.

The desecration of the constitutional institution, the National Assembly, the dispatch of martial law troops to the independent constitutional institution, the Central Election Commission, and several media outlets, and the martial law command’s measures to "deal with non-returning veterans" have angered filmmakers. Moreover, the restriction of citizens’ fundamental rights, including Article 3 of the martial law command’s proclamation that "all media and publications are subject to martial law control," is especially infuriating. The Constitution of the Republic of Korea does not explicitly mention "freedom of expression," but it collectively guarantees freedom of conscience, freedom of the press and publication, freedom of assembly and association, and freedom of academic and artistic activities as "freedom of expression." In other words, Yoon Seok-yeol implemented an unconstitutional blacklist in the middle of the night. Reports say that the current Ministry of Justice inspector immediately resigned, saying "I cannot accept martial law," but there is no sign that any current cabinet member has expressed intention to resign or acted to protect citizens’ right to life against illegal martial law. The operation principle of the blacklist, which proceeded soullessly under orders, and its plausible excuses have been clearly proven false.

During Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidency, filmmakers have pointed out the unfairness of the government’s one-way film budget proposals. The budget plans of the Korean Film Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which are legally authorized, were thwarted by Yoon Seok-yeol’s one-way tyranny. If the opposition party’s attempt to impeach cabinet members and the budget approval are grounds for martial law, then Yoon Seok-yeol himself is the anti-state force. Any conscientious public official should ask themselves: Has there ever been anyone who arrogantly controlled the Ministry of Economy and Finance and all government agencies and arbitrarily prepared budgets like Yoon Seok-yeol since democracy was established?

The primary prerequisite to overcoming the current chaotic situation and restoring the fallen status of the Republic of Korea is to suspend Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential duties. If impeachment is the fastest way, then impeachment should be chosen, and if there are other ways to dismiss him, the quickest path must be found. The arrest and punishment of Yoon Seok-yeol, who was revealed live on broadcast to be a felon of treason, along with the Minister of National Defense and the martial law forces, is an undeniable and obvious step.

We warn the People Power Party lawmakers who are obsessed with political engineering for regime restoration. The way for Korea to survive is to immediately stop the presidential duties of Yoon Seok-yeol, the greatest risk factor and leader of treason, who is beyond common sense and uncontrollable. The people will decide who to entrust the regime to. Choose whether to be remembered in history as an accomplice to treason or as a politician who prioritizes the lives and safety of the people.

To the filmmakers of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Seok-yeol is no longer the president. He is merely a felon of treason in the act.
Immediately suspend Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential duties, dismiss him, and arrest him.

Filmmakers United for Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation

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