Second Statement Released a Day Before Impeachment Vote
81 Film Organizations and 6,388 Participants Join
On the 13th, one day before the second impeachment vote of President Yoon Seok-yeol, citizens who stayed overnight in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, are holding placards from early morning, urging impeachment. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
Actors Song Kang-ho and Hwang Jung-min, director Kim Sung-soo of the film 'Spring in Seoul,' and other film industry professionals issued a second statement urging the dismissal and arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol ahead of the National Assembly's second impeachment motion vote following the declaration of martial law. The number of participants nearly doubled from 3,007 in the first statement.
The "Film Industry Members Demanding Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation," which includes 81 organizations such as the Korean Film Producers Guild (PGK), the Korean Film Directors Guild (DGK), and the Women Filmmakers Association, as well as 6,388 film industry professionals, said on the 13th, "We watched the scene of the vote failing to proceed with a heavy heart. We hoped that the People Power Party lawmakers would participate in the vote, even belatedly, but such a cinematic event never happened." They added, "In this chaos that began with Yoon Seok-yeol's delusional declaration of martial law, we cannot imagine any outcome other than impeachment or immediate resignation."
They continued, "'Orderly early resignation' is a second rebellion," and stated, "A president who violates the constitution must be punished by the constitutionally prescribed methods." They urged, "The people have never entrusted the president's power to Han Duck-soo, Han Dong-hoon, or the People Power Party. The People Power Party lawmakers must now fulfill their fundamental role. If you clearly take a stance on 'Yoon Seok-yeol, a current offender of the crime of rebellion,' and judge martial law unconstitutional, do not hesitate and participate in the vote."
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held a departure ceremony for the impeachment bus on the morning of the 13th in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, urging participation in the impeachment vote against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News
Film industry professionals issued the first statement on December 7 and 8, with 81 organizations and 3,007 people calling for President Yoon's resignation. Directors Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Jung Ji-young, and Jang Hang-jun, as well as actors Kim Hye-soo, Moon So-ri, and Jo Hyun-chul participated in the first statement, while actors Song Kang-ho, Hwang Jung-min, Jeon Do-yeon, Han Ye-ri, and directors Kim Sung-soo, Lee Joon-ik, and Jang Hang-jun joined the second statement.
The vote on the second impeachment motion against President Yoon will take place on the 14th.
Below is the full text of the [Film Industry Members Demanding Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation] 2nd Emergency Statement
People Power Party must stop colluding with rebellion and immediately impeach Yoon Seok-yeol!
On December 7 at 10 a.m., 'Yoon Seok-yeol, a current offender of the crime of rebellion,' released a two-minute statement saying, "I will not evade legal or political responsibility, and I will entrust our party with decisions regarding my tenure and national stability measures." Subsequently, the only constitutional means to immediately suspend President Yoon's duties?the National Assembly's impeachment motion?was ultimately discarded due to the People Power Party lawmakers' non-participation in the vote.
We film industry professionals warned People Power Party lawmakers in our first emergency statement on December 5, saying, "Decide for yourselves whether you will be remembered in history as collaborators in rebellion or as politicians who prioritize the lives and safety of the people!" Ultimately, the People Power Party lawmakers collectively left the plenary session, mocking Article 46, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, which states, "Members of the National Assembly shall perform their duties in accordance with their conscience prioritizing the national interest," shirking their responsibility and choosing the path of colluding with rebellion by protecting Yoon Seok-yeol.
Alongside countless citizens, we film industry professionals watched the scene of the vote failing to proceed with a heavy heart in the square, on set, and in our respective workplaces and lives. We hoped that People Power Party lawmakers would heed the people's command and will and participate in the vote, even belatedly, but such a cinematic event never occurred. However, in this chaos that began with Yoon Seok-yeol's delusional declaration of martial law, we cannot imagine any outcome other than impeachment or immediate resignation.
On December 8, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon issued a joint statement proposing "orderly early resignation" as a "method that prioritizes national interest over impeachment." Without even specifying the timing of the "early resignation," the unilateral statement seeking cooperation from the people, the National Assembly, and the opposition for national stability is recognized by us film industry professionals as a second rebellion. A president who violates the constitution must be punished by constitutionally prescribed methods. We will not tolerate any attempts to seek other unconstitutional methods while claiming martial law is unconstitutional.
The true agents of national stability, chaos resolution, and order restoration are the people who hold the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea, and we film industry professionals exist as part of the people. Although we have different conditions such as gender, age, experience, and fields of activity, we share the clear common goal of 'Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation.' Like the majority of the people, we film industry professionals are not confused at all. Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party, who exclude the nation and the people from priority and abuse politics to maintain power, are the very source of chaos.
The people have never entrusted the president's power to Han Duck-soo, Han Dong-hoon, or the People Power Party. The 'orderly early resignation' cited as the reason for non-participation in the impeachment vote is a second rebellion aimed at privatizing power. Each member of the National Assembly is a constitutional institution entrusted with power by the people. People Power Party lawmakers must now fulfill their fundamental role. If you clearly take a stance on 'Yoon Seok-yeol, a current offender of the crime of rebellion,' and judge martial law unconstitutional, do not hesitate and participate in the vote!
We film industry professionals demand once again:
People Power Party must stop colluding with rebellion and immediately impeach Yoon Seok-yeol!
December 13, 2024
Film Industry Members Demanding Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation
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