Municipal filmmaker Jung Yoon-suk received an outpouring of support after a relatively obscure incident became explosive during a court riot in downtown Seoul. On the other side, Jung’s supporters are circling the wagons to defend him. They want his charges dropped since the original charges characterized him as one of the rioters. So far, this petition has won at least 2,781 signatures. It’s got the backing of 51 different organizations, from the highly-lauded Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
Wherever he goes, Jung Yoon-suk delights audiences with his compelling documentaries. Through these parallels, he casts a light on these deeply impactful instances of social trauma in South Korea—the Yongsan tragedy, the Sewol ferry disaster, the recent Itaewon crowd crush. His work has been awarded Best Film at over 70 international film festivals. This accomplishment stands as a testament to his commitment to truthfully capturing the world.
Awards and Recognitions
Jung’s praised 2013 feature debut, Non-Fiction Diary, was a big success. It won accolades from major international film festivals such as Berlinale, Busan, and Sitges. The film’s widespread critical acclaim is a testament to the power of Jung’s knack for retelling challenging narratives that deeply connect with both domestic and global audiences.
In 2017, he directed the feature-length documentary Bamseom Pirates Seoul Inferno. It had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and went on to screen at Jeonju, the BFI London Film Festival, Goteborg and many more. These accomplishments highlight Jung’s importance as a filmmaker committed to exploring social justice issues through his artistry.
Statement from Supporters
The KIFF is fiercely in Jung’s corner. They claim that he approached the court insurrection scene not in the capacity of a rioter, but instead as a filmmaker inspired by an artistic obligation. They made clear that at root, prosecutors have disregarded the public interest inherent to his work. This potential abuse of the charge will have a chilling effect on artistic freedom.
“Jung entered the site not as a participant, but as a filmmaker driven by ethical duty and a commitment to documenting reality. Prosecutors disregarded the public interest of his work and charged him as a rioter — a clear violation of artistic freedom.” – Korean Independent Film Council
The Busan International Film Festival echoed these sentiments. They stressed that Jung’s work as a documentary filmmaker is separate from the perpetrator’s of violence that day.
“As a documentary filmmaker with a duty to chronicle moments of national crisis, Jung cannot be viewed as part of the far-right group responsible for the unprecedented violence.” – Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
Ongoing Advocacy Efforts
Now that the petition is still gaining traction, hundreds of advocates have echoed the need to defend artistic expression in the Republic of Korea. They contend that artists like Jung are essential in archiving and making sense of pivotal moments in history that change the fabric of society.