As the vote on the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol approaches tomorrow, voices calling for impeachment are growing louder across the entertainment industry, including actors, screenwriters, and film directors.
Following President Yoon's declaration of a state of emergency on December 3 and the passing of a motion to dissolve the National Assembly, the second impeachment vote will take place at 5 PM on the 14th, after the first impeachment vote against President Yoon was canceled on the 7th.
In particular, after President Yoon claimed in a public address on the 12th that the state of emergency was a “constitutional decision and an act of governance,” statements from the entertainment industry began to emerge on the 13th.
On the 5th, filmmakers who had previously issued a statement released a second emergency statement on this day.
Eighty film organizations, including directors, actors, film majors and non-majors, producers, critics, and film distribution, marketing, and festival representatives, along with 6,388 individual signatories, issued a statement titled “An orderly early resignation is a second insurrection. The People Power Party must stop supporting insurrection and immediately impeach Yoon Seok-yeol!” demanding the resignation of President Yoon and criticizing the People Power Party.
They criticized the People Power Party members for their absence during the vote on the 7th, which led to the impeachment motion against President Yoon being ultimately discarded, stating, “The members of the People Power Party collectively left the main assembly hall, neglecting their responsibilities and mocking Article 46, Section 2 of the Constitution, which states that ‘Members of the National Assembly shall perform their duties in accordance with their conscience, prioritizing the national interest,’ and chose the path of supporting insurrection by shielding Yoon Seok-yeol.” They reiterated their call for impeachment, stating, “In this chaos that began with Yoon Seok-yeol's delusional declaration of a state of emergency, we cannot imagine any outcome other than impeachment or immediate resignation.”
The statement included participation from directors such as Kim Sung-soo of the film “Seoul's Spring,” Kang Yoon-sung of “The Outlaws,” Um Tae-hwa of “Concrete Utopia,” Lee Myung-se of “The Drug King,” Lee Jong-pil of “The Escape,” Jang Hang-jun of “Midnight Runners,” and actors Ko Chang-seok, Kim Ui-sung, Kim Tae-hee, Song Kang-ho, Shim Eun-kyung, Yea Ji-won, Ok Ja-yeon, Han Ye-ri, and Hwang Jung-min.
The solidarity of filmmakers plans to take to the streets on the 14th, the day the second impeachment motion is voted on. At 11 AM that day, they will hold a rally titled “Film Industry Crisis Overcoming Filmmakers' Solidarity: Urging Immediate Arrest and Impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol” in the Yeouido area of the National Assembly in Seoul and read a declaration of the current situation. They will then participate in a national mobilization.
Broadcast writers, who have introduced K-content to the world with original and entertaining dramas, also called for President Yoon's impeachment and arrest investigation.
The Korean Broadcasting Writers Association issued a statement that day demanding, “Impeach the insurrectionist Yoon Seok-yeol and investigate and punish him.” Writers from dramas such as Park Hae-young of “My Liberation Notes,” Kang Eun-kyung of “Gyeongseong Creature,” Kim Eun-sook of “The Glory,” Park Jae-bum of “Hot Blooded Priest,” Kim Yi-young of “Celebrity,” Lee Woo-jung of the “Reply” series, Kang Suk-kyung of “Physical: 100,” and Mo Eun-seol of “Black and White Chef” participated.
They expressed their anger, stating, “Broadcast writers are also furious and shuddered at the bizarre experience of things we thought were relics of the past suddenly overwhelming reality.” They added, “It has long been since the ‘prelude to martial law’ invaded the broadcasting scene, which is most closely connected to the times as a forward base of reality. There have been instances where the selection of items and scheduling have been influenced by the whims of those in power, leading to changes in program hosts or even the cancellation or discontinuation of programs. Situations where heads of broadcasting companies are parachuted into their positions have also been repeated.” They continued, “At a time when the anxiety that production autonomy and creative freedom could be infringed upon was permeating the broadcasting scene, the martial law and proclamation of that day were the moment when the devil pulled back the curtain and revealed its true face to the world. And it was in the most violent manner possible,” expressing the shock of the state of emergency.
Furthermore, regarding President Yoon's public address on the 12th, they expressed their anger, stating, “How could someone who was once the president of this country be devoid of any reason, conscience, or even a sense of shame? He is filled only with hostility, madness, and anachronistic delusions.” They urged, “Our reality is not a fantasy sci-fi drama. The ending of a trash drama featuring such a ‘madman character’ can only be one. He must not be the president of this country for even a moment longer. He must not be allowed to remain in that grave and heavy position for even a single day. Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol and investigate and punish him immediately.”
In response to the ongoing voices from the entertainment industry, netizens have reacted with comments such as “Thank you for speaking out for the people,” “Awesome,” “I support this,” “A situation even trash drama writers couldn't have imagined,” and “I'm glad there are conscious filmmakers.”
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
