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▲ Director Park Chan-wook is seen in this photo provided by CJ ENM. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- A group of prominent South Korean filmmakers, including director Park Chan-wook, have submitted a petition requesting the acquittal of documentary director Jung Yoon-suk, who is on trial for allegedly trespassing during a protest incident at the Seoul Western District Court.

 

The Korean Independent Film Association said Tuesday it had submitted the petition to the Seoul Western District Court on behalf of Jung, who has been indicted on charges of unlawful entry into a public building.

 

According to the association, a total of 2,781 individuals — including directors Park Chan-wook, Kim Sung-soo, Byun Young-joo, Jang Hang-jun, Lee Myung-se, Shin Yeon-shik, and Cho Hyun-chul — signed the petition. Fifty-one film organizations, including the Korean Film Producers Association, Korean Film Producers' Association, Directors Guild of Korea, and the Busan International Film Festival, also endorsed the appeal.

 

In the petition, the signatories argued that Jung had been filming footage for a documentary about the alleged martial law conspiracy and the subsequent social unrest, in collaboration with lawmakers and members of the press.

 

“Jung was clearly engaged in legitimate journalistic and artistic activity, which was explained in detail during the investigation,” they wrote. “He acted out of a sense of ethical duty and artistic responsibility to document a moment when democracy itself was under threat.”

 

“He was there to film rioters, not to participate in the riot,” the petition stressed. “We sincerely urge the court to acquit Jung Yoon-suk so that the act of recording the truth through art is not treated as a criminal offense.”

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]