Bong Joon-ho Reflects on December 3 Martial Law During MBC Interview

In a recent episode of MBC's program 'Questions' (질문들), aired on February 18, renowned filmmaker Bong Joon-ho shared his thoughts on the martial law declared on December 3, 2022. During his conversation with anchor Son Seok-hee, Bong noted that while international audiences often associate South Korea with cultural phenomena like Rosé's 'Apartment', BTS, and 'Squid Game', the concept of 'martial law' left many bewildered. He remarked, 'The term martial law seems more fitting for military coup films from the 70s and 80s in the Third World, so it felt surreal and disconcerting.'

Bong recounted a humorous moment when a foreign friend jokingly asked if he was calling from prison, highlighting the shock many felt during that time. He reflected on his own childhood experience, recalling the '12.12 Military Coup' depicted in the film 'Seoul's Spring' when he was in the fourth grade, expressing disbelief that his generation would witness another martial law. However, he expressed relief that the legal frameworks built over time seem to be holding up.

Additionally, Bong mentioned being included in a blacklist created by the National Intelligence Service during the Lee Myung-bak administration, alongside fellow director Park Chan-wook. He clarified that they did not suffer direct consequences due to their reliance on private funding for their projects, unlike independent filmmakers and documentary directors who faced significant challenges due to the blacklist. He emphasized that creating such lists is fundamentally wrong.

In a lighter moment, Son Seok-hee pointed out that his silhouette appeared in Bong's acclaimed film 'Parasite' (기생충). Bong explained that he aims to enhance the realism of news scenes in his films by featuring actual journalists, which was the intention behind including Son's figure as well.