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Youn Yuh-jung's conviction has always shone brightly. In her choices as an actress and in her demeanor as an adult, the name Youn Yuh-jung has been synonymous with 'strength.' Whether in her works or on stage, be it in entertainment shows or award ceremonies, her honesty has been a model for us all.

However, Youn Yuh-jung's remark in Busan, "I can't be a salesman," was difficult to understand. It seemed too far from dignity to be wrapped in the language of conviction.

On the 19th, during a press conference at the Busan International Film Festival, when asked about the charm points of the film "Marriage Story," Youn Yuh-jung essentially avoided answering.

“I am someone who does my work as work. I have done all the acting, so my mission is complete. It is not my place to ask you to watch this film or buy it. I cannot play the role of a salesman.”

Though it was a brief statement, it quickly turned into a controversy. Online, there were criticisms of "irresponsible attitude" and defenses of "actors speak through their performances." However, it was certainly disappointing that she refused even the minimum dialogue with the audience and the press in such an official setting as a film festival.

Today's films are products of a multi-faceted era. Directors become producers, actors take on directing roles, and everyone collaborates to create a piece of content.

Actors are no longer passive entities. They are the face of the work and the first gateway. Sharing at least minimal language about the films they choose with the audience is not sales; it is courtesy. It is also a solidarity towards collaborators, the industry, and the audience.

In particular, the Busan International Film Festival is neither a market aimed at sales nor a light-hearted entertainment venue. It is a public stage where works and audiences first meet.

Even there, when faced with a not-so-difficult question, to insist on saying, "I am not a salesman," reads not as firmness but as indifference, not as conviction but as a loss of duty.

The name Youn Yuh-jung is a deeply engraved symbol in the history of Korean cinema.

As the first Korean to win an Oscar for acting, she has become a source of pride for Korean cinema beyond just herself. There has always been anticipation surrounding her steps. Thus, this remark is even more perplexing.

If there is an actor who knows better than anyone the weight bestowed by the world, then as a guide in a rapidly changing era and as a colleague in the challenging film industry, that weight must also be borne in language.

Sometimes, at the peak of life, warm consideration shines more gracefully than excessive firmness, and dignity can outshine conviction.

♥ Teacher, it seems you have not completed what a lead actor should do at the film festival. ♥

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