[The Editors' Verdict]Reflecting on the Boom of the "Poor Genre" Documentary

A Wave of Diverse Documentaries Released Ahead of the June 3 Presidential Election
Fact-Based Perspectives Offer Insights
Serving as a Barometer Amid Political Turmoil

Documentaries are an unpopular genre. Most documentaries, produced as independent films, struggle to find backers and endure financial difficulties throughout their production. Even after barely completing the final edit, they often fail at the box office due to a lack of theaters willing to screen them. In the more than 100-year history of cinema, documentaries?long considered a "cursed genre" fighting for survival?are now enjoying a boom in South Korea. The protagonists of this unfamiliar scene, reminiscent of a documentary renaissance, are three individuals.

'Adult Kim Jangha.' Although it was quietly pulled from theaters after its release last year, it experienced a "miraculous reversal" in April, with viewing hours increasing by 4,100%, after its connection with former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Moon Hyungbae became a hot topic. 'Adult Kim Jangha' depicts the life of a contemporary elder who ran a traditional medicine shop for 60 years and donated his earnings for "social equity." The two-part series, produced by Gyeongnam MBC, was re-edited for theatrical release. To highlight Kim Jangha's good deeds, the film avoids close-ups, slow motion, or exaggerated use of music. Only once, in the final scene, does Kim Jangha's beaming, saluting face fill the screen.

'Cheer Up, Republic of Korea.' The main character is former President Yoon Sukyeol. Released in February, this documentary asserts the legitimacy of the 12·3 Martial Law. Supporters of former President Yoon chanted "Republic of Korea" and declared, "We have been enlightened," as the film ended. Despite a limited number of theaters and showings, the film surpassed 60,000 viewers within two weeks of its release, prompting calls on social media and online communities to expand its screenings. A German public broadcaster also aired a documentary claiming that Chinese and North Korean spies, as well as election fraud, were behind the 12·3 Martial Law incident.

'Aldeas, A New Story.' A documentary about Pope Francis, who passed away on April 27, is set to be released soon. Directed by the renowned Martin Scorsese, this documentary features the Pope's final interview before his death and covers the activities of Scholas Occurrentes, a nonprofit educational foundation he established in 2013. The Pope described the foundation's diverse activities as "beautiful and hopeful" because they "explore the roots of human sociality and conflict." As this work was not produced for commercial purposes, it is expected to become widely available through various channels. The documentary vividly portrays an elder who, transcending religious boundaries, showed even atheists a "God named Hope."

These three individuals, who have never met, seem to have little in common. If there is a similarity, it is that each lived according to their own will in their respective positions until recently, and then stepped down?by choice, by circumstance, or by death. Those who wish to remember their lives create documentaries to commemorate and remember them in their own way.

There has never been an era in which such a diverse range of documentaries has emerged worldwide. This has become possible because intense efforts to confront reality are now supported by technology. Since their inception, documentaries have fought against the contradictions of the world. Grounded in facts, they illuminate the present and offer perspectives on the future, making them an effective tool for democratic communication. For this reason, documentaries most closely resemble journalism among all art forms.

Following last month's release of 'Habauman's Promise,' which focuses on former Presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chunghee, a series of documentaries addressing the turbulent political situation after the martial law incidents?such as 'Search and Seizure: The Beginning of Rebellion'?have been released. Where will the choices of audiences and viewers lead? They could prove to be a far more accurate gauge than the countless, often controversial, public opinion polls.