Jeon-gyo-jo "Accusation Acts Are Defamation"
Conservative Groups "Inciting Students to Teach Distorted Historical Awareness"
At the box office, the film 'Seoul Spring,' which is on the verge of surpassing 10 million viewers, is causing growing conflict between conservative groups and teachers' organizations.
According to the education sector on the 20th, on the 13th, a middle school in Mapo-gu, Seoul, held a group viewing of Seoul Spring, which led to protests by members of conservative groups, including members of the conservative YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who came to the school in opposition.
On the 12th, marking 44 years since the 12.12 military coup, the film "Spring in Seoul," which is based on the 12.12 military coup, is being screened at a movie theater in Seoul. [Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@]
The middle school explained that students were allowed to choose between Seoul Spring and another film, but conservative groups claimed that the film "incites students and instills a distorted sense of history," urging against group viewings.
It has been identified that these groups also filed complaints against other schools where the film was being shown.
The actions of the conservative groups did not stop there.
According to the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), a conservative group called the Free Republic of Korea Patriotic Corps filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against the principal of a school in Yongsan-gu that held a group viewing of Seoul Spring for 'abuse of authority,' and against an executive of the Practical Education Teachers' Association who issued a related statement for 'defamation.'
Additionally, earlier this month, an elementary school in Seoul canceled plans for a group viewing of Seoul Spring following protests from some conservative groups.
It was also revealed later that an elementary school in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, withdrew plans to hold a group viewing of Seoul Spring for 5th and 6th graders after objections from some parents.
At the time, a Pohang Office of Education official stated, "It was understood that the school was promoting the group viewing of the film as part of students' study of modern and contemporary history," and added, "After some parents expressed opposition to the school, the school informed us that the plan was canceled."
In response, the Practical Education Teachers' Association condemned the protests by conservative groups in a statement released on the 16th, expressing "strong concern over the current situation, which fundamentally infringes on teachers' educational rights as a method to enforce far-right historical views."
The KTU also issued a statement on the 20th, saying, "The December 12 incident is an important historical fact included in the regular curriculum, and helping students make their own judgments is a natural choice for schools," and criticized, "Instead of wasting national administrative power on prosecutions, they should humbly accept the people's choice."
They further argued, "The prosecutions by some conservative groups are themselves defamation and social noise," and insisted, "The intention to escalate historical facts into political strife must stop immediately."
Prosecutor General: "Democracy Was Achieved Through Everyone's Sacrifices and Efforts"
On the 17th, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok visited a movie theater to watch "Seoul's Spring" with Seong Sang-heon, Director of the Planning and Coordination Department, Park Hyuk-soo, Spokesperson, Jang Jun-ho, Head of Policy Planning, and researchers from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. [Photo by Supreme Prosecutors' Office]
Meanwhile, regardless of the controversy, on the 17th, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok watched the film Seoul Spring together with senior officials of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Prosecutor General Lee was accompanied by Planning and Coordination Bureau Chief Seong Sang-heon, spokesperson Park Hyuk-soo, Criminal Policy Officer Jang Jun-ho, and Policy Planning Manager Kim Su-hong during the viewing.
After watching the film, Prosecutor General Lee said, "I recall the Tao Te Ching's saying, 'Heaven's net is vast and wide, yet it misses nothing,'" and mentioned, "During my time at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 1996, I personally attended the trials of former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo at the Seoul District Court and wrote articles about them."
He added, "We must not forget that the democracy we enjoy was hard-won through the sacrifices and efforts of all citizens," and emphasized, "We must fulfill the role of the prosecution in upholding the rule of law."
Seoul Spring is a film depicting the December 12, 1979, military coup. It is the first film to portray the December 12 military rebellion. The film depicts the tense nine hours involving Chun Doo-kwang (played by Hwang Jung-min), the Security Command commander attempting to seize power, and Lee Tae-shin (played by Jung Woo-sung), the Capital Defense Command commander defending Seoul.
Released on the 22nd of last month, the film is currently continuing its box office success, approaching 10 million viewers.
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