Actor Thomas Kretschmann Criticizes Martial Law Amidst 'A Taxi Driver' Success

Thomas Kretschmann, the German actor who portrayed journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter in the film '택시운전사' (A Taxi Driver), expressed his dismay over the recent declaration of martial law in South Korea. On December 8, he shared stills from the 2017 film on his social media, stating, "these are set photos from 'Taeksi woonjunsa' (A Taxi Driver) 2017, a film about South Korea's past, …at least, that's what I thought."

The film recounts the events of the Gwangju Uprising on May 18, 1980, highlighting the efforts of Hinzpeter and taxi driver Kim Sa-bok to expose the truth behind the military government's suppression of the pro-democracy movement. The Gwangju Uprising is a pivotal moment in South Korea's history, marking a significant step towards the end of military dictatorship.

In '택시운전사', Kretschmann's character hires taxi driver Man-seob, played by Song Kang-ho, to travel from Seoul to Gwangju, offering him 100,000 won to cover the dangerous journey. Man-seob, needing the money to pay overdue rent, finds himself in the midst of a tumultuous and tragic chapter of Korean history. Kretschmann's portrayal of Hinzpeter earned him recognition, including the Song Gun-ho Journalism Award in November 2003 for his reporting on the Gwangju incident.

Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of a 'state of emergency' on December 3, the film rankings on domestic OTT platforms have shifted. '서울의 봄' (Seoul's Spring) currently holds the top spot on Netflix's South Korea Top 10, while '택시운전사' has surged back to the number one position on Watcha, prompting the public to reflect on the film's relevance to current events.

In the wake of the emergency declaration and its subsequent lifting, discussions surrounding President Yoon's impeachment have emerged in the National Assembly, alongside widespread candlelight vigils calling for the condemnation of the martial law situation.