*Editor’s note: K-VIBE invites experts from various K-culture sectors to share their extraordinary discovery about the Korean culture. 

 

[Larger Than Architecture] Chapter 1. This World We Live In 

Ep. 9. Busan International Film Festival

 

By Kim Won (Master K-architect) 

 

 

Busan has long been known as a city with money but lacking in culture. In the early 1960s, when American pianist Ruth Slenczynska performed at the Sigonggwan, the people of Busan, unfamiliar with attending concerts, treated it like a typical municipal event. Mayor Kim Hyun-ok gave a greeting, delivered a congratulatory speech, and presented a bouquet, making me, an attendee, feel embarrassed.

 

Up until 1996, when the first international film festival was held, Busan remained a barren land for culture, merely a port city with trade ships coming and going, and the second largest city in Korea. However, the film festival, aggressively pushed forward by Mayor Moon Jeong-su, who called himself "YS's henchman," has now reached its 9th edition, solidifying its position as the top film festival in Asia and aiming to join the ranks of the world's top five film festivals. Today, Busan proudly hosts this grand event, earning the nickname "Cine City."

 

Upon receiving the invitation to the opening ceremony on October 7th, I replied that I would take the 3 PM flight. At Gimpo Airport, I found that a business class seat had been reserved and paid for under my name. After arriving at Gimhae Airport, I registered at the PIFF (Pusan International Film Festival) counter and was taken to the Chosun Hotel by a waiting deluxe taxi. VIPs above me were chauffeured in black sedans, and those below in limousines. This level of smooth organization would ensure success for any international event. A culture section journalist I hadn't seen in a while, now an editorial writer, praised the flawless coordination of the organizing committee.

 

The opening ceremony and screening, held outdoors at the Suyeong Bay Yacht Arena starting at 7 PM, proceeded smoothly and orderly. The staff were courteous, and the volunteers enthusiastic. Managing such an event, with 5,000 movie enthusiasts and cinephiles gathered in a festive atmosphere, is challenging. However, even the passionate young female fans maintained order and decorum. Hosts Ahn Sung-ki and Lee Young-ae gave brief greetings, followed by the screening of the opening film "2046," directed by Wong Kar-wai and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai. The film selection was excellent, and the screening, held by the quiet seaside with crisp autumn air and top-notch sound and projection equipment, was impressive. Over the next ten days, 260 films will be showcased in various theaters throughout Busan.

 

After the opening film, shuttle buses took groups to the welcome party at the Paradise Hotel. The seamless guidance and direction by the staff earned praise from the invited journalists and critics. The party was attended by prominent figures like directors Im Kwon-taek, Lee Chang-dong, Kang Je-gyu, Kim Ki-duk, actors Ahn Sung-ki, Kang Soo-yeon, Jang Mi-hee, Lee Young-ae, Lee Eun-ju, Yang Dong-geun, as well as key political figures. However, it was entirely a celebration for the filmmakers, with no speeches or greetings from politicians. An anecdote is well-known about two prominent presidential candidates who were denied even a brief greeting at a previous festival. This year, even the Minister of Culture and Tourism, who donated a significant 1 billion KRW, did not get to step onto the stage.

 

This success is largely attributed to the extraordinary leadership and personal rapport of Chairman Kim Dong-ho, as well as his steadfast adherence to the principle of non-interference by administrative bodies.

 

The celebration, which began as a quiet party at the hotel yard, moved to the street vendors on Haeundae Beach and Jagalchi Market, continuing until dawn. The foreign guests particularly enjoyed the authentic atmosphere, with memories of drinking soju on newspapers spread on the ground at Jagalchi Market in the early days remaining a cherished part of the festival's history. These elements have contributed significantly to the recent success of Korean films at international festivals, both diplomatically and in forming connections.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]