Filmmakers including Bong Joon-ho and Moon So-ri issue statement: "Arrest Yoon Seok-yeol for treason"

2518 Film Industry Professionals and 77 Film Organizations Issue Statement
"Will the People Power Party Be Recorded in History as Accomplices to Insurrection?"

Director Bong Joon-ho and 2,518 film industry professionals including actors Moon So-ri, Kang Dong-won, and Son Ye-jin, along with 77 film organizations, issued an 'Emergency Statement by Film Industry Professionals' on the 7th, urging "the dismissal and arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol (President) for the crime of insurrection."

Director Bong Joon-ho. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The statement said, "'Are you out of your mind?' was the initial reaction of the majority of the public witnessing the declaration of martial law. Film industry professionals are no different. It is something incomprehensible by humanities common sense, and even with the use of cinematic imagination, it would be nothing more than delusion, yet it has happened in reality." It added, "The most dangerous existence to the survival of the Republic of Korea is Yoon Seok-yeol (President), and removing him from the presidential office is the most urgent task to protect the democratic republic."

The film professionals pointed out, "The status of Hallyu, which was busy being promoted as an achievement of the regime, has fallen into ruin," and "foreign media, which highlighted that the growth of democracy and freedom of expression in South Korea is the greatest foundation for the growth of culture and arts, are reporting daily predicting the decline of South Korea's image and a decrease in visitors." They further stated, "The primary prerequisite to overcome the current chaotic situation and restore South Korea's fallen status is to suspend the president's duties," and raised their voices saying, "If impeachment is the fastest way, then impeachment must be chosen."

They also criticized the ruling party. "We warn the members of the People Power Party who are engrossed in political engineering for regime re-creation," they said, "It is beyond common sense and uncontrollable; stopping the presidential duties of Yoon Seok-yeol (President), the number one risk factor in South Korea and the leader of insurrection, right now is the way for South Korea to survive. The people will decide who to entrust the regime to. Choose whether to be remembered in history as an accomplice to insurrection or as a politician who prioritizes the lives and safety of the people."

Actor Moon So-ri. Photo by C-JeS Entertainment

Complaints also erupted regarding the film budget during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s administration. "We film professionals have pointed out the unfairness of the government’s one-way film budget plan. The budget proposals of the Korean Film Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, whose authority is stipulated by law, were wrecked by Yoon Seok-yeol (President)’s one-way tyranny," they said, adding, "If the opposition party’s attempt to impeach cabinet members and the budget approval are grounds for martial law, then the anti-state force is Yoon Seok-yeol himself."

They declared, "To the film professionals of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Seok-yeol (President) is no longer the president. He is merely a perpetrator of the crime of insurrection," and demanded, "Swiftly suspend Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential duties, dismiss and arrest him!"