Filmmakers Including Park Chan-wook Submit Petition for Acquittal of Documentary Director Covering 'Seobu District Court Disturbance'

2,781 Filmmakers and Citizens Sign Petition
"Went to Court to Document the Crisis of Democracy"

Filmmakers including director Park Chan-wook entered the scene to cover the disturbance at the Seoul Western District Court and submitted a petition for acquittal to the court for documentary director Jeong Yoon-seok (44), who was prosecuted.

President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested on charges of being the leader of a rebellion, and a day after some supporters broke into the Seoul Western District Court and caused an illegal violent incident, traces of damage remain at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The Korean Independent Film Association announced on the 16th that it collected and submitted a petition requesting the acquittal of director Jeong, who was indicted on charges of special trespassing, to the Western District Court.

The petition was signed by a total of 2,781 people including filmmakers such as director Park Chan-wook, Kim Seong-su, Byun Young-joo, Jang Hang-jun, Lee Myung-se, Shin Yeon-sik, and Jo Hyun-chul, as well as citizens. Fifty-one film organizations including the Korean Film Producers Association, Korean Film Makers Association, Korean Film Directors Association, and Busan International Film Festival also participated.

In the petition, they stated, "Director Jeong was preparing a documentary dealing with the illegal martial law attempt and the resulting social collapse, and was filming videos in cooperation with members of the National Assembly and media organizations," adding, "This intention of the work was clearly explained during the investigation process."

They continued, "He carried a camera to the court based on an ethical will to record the moment when the crisis of democracy becomes a reality and a sense of responsibility as an artist," emphasizing, "Director Jeong is the one who filmed the rioters, not a rioter himself."

Online petition by filmmakers urging the acquittal of documentary director Jung Yoon-seok. Screenshot from the Korean Independent Film Association's social media (SNS)

Director Jeong’s side also requested the prosecution to withdraw the charges at the trial held on the same day before the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Woo-hyun), calling it an "unreasonable indictment." Article 255 of the Criminal Procedure Act stipulates that the prosecution can withdraw charges before the first trial verdict is announced.

Jeong’s side maintains that he entered the court as a documentary director to record the incident. They also argued that contrary to the prosecution’s claim that he entered the court around 3 a.m. on January 19, he actually entered around 5 a.m. after the disturbance occurred, thus the indictment facts are incorrect.

However, the prosecution stated, "The defense’s claim is merely an independent assertion," and "We have no intention of withdrawing the charges."

Director Jeong has documented historical events that left social wounds for nearly 20 years, starting with the 2008 mad cow disease candlelight protests, including Yongsan, the Sewol ferry disaster, and the Itaewon tragedy. He has directed numerous documentaries such as 'Jam Docu Gangjeong,' 'Nonfiction Diary,' 'Bamseom Pirates Seoul Inferno,' and 'To Truth.'