Director Kim Sung-soo Criticizes President Yoon Seok-yeol's Emergency Martial Law Declaration

Director Kim Sung-soo, known for his film 'Seoul's Spring' (서울의 봄), has sharply criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration and subsequent lifting of emergency martial law, labeling it an 'absurd coup.' During the 11th Korean Film Producers Association Awards held on December 17 at Indie Space in Donggyo-dong, Seoul, Kim received both the Best Director and Best Film awards for his work, which artistically reinterprets the military coup of December 12. The film gained significant attention following President Yoon's emergency martial law announcement on December 3, becoming a hot topic among audiences.

Kim expressed his initial concerns about the film's release, stating, "I was filled with anxiety and worry leading up to the premiere. Given the substantial budget spent during the pandemic, I feared we might not break even, but a miracle happened. So many people came to see it, and I was thrilled. However, I also wondered why it resonated so much with young audiences."

He continued, "On December 3, the president, in a fit of madness, suddenly executed an absurd coup, prompting citizens to rush to the National Assembly. After the impeachment vote failed, young people took to the streets to support it, and witnessing this made me realize why our film was so popular. Today's youth possess a strong sense of justice and conviction."

In his concluding remarks, Kim stated, "As a filmmaker, I pondered what messages I should convey to such an incredible audience and how to communicate differently than before. At the same time, I feel excited as a storyteller in this new era. I will strive to create works that meet expectations."

On December 3, at 10:25 PM, President Yoon announced the emergency martial law in a national address. The National Assembly convened an emergency session at 1 AM on December 4, where a motion to lift the martial law was passed with 190 votes in favor. President Yoon subsequently lifted the martial law at 4:27 AM.

On December 7, just four days later, Yoon addressed the nation again, stating, "The declaration of emergency martial law stemmed from my urgency as the president, the ultimate responsible party for governance. However, I acknowledge that this caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public, and I sincerely apologize to those who were startled by it," while still justifying the necessity of the martial law.

In response, a group of filmmakers, including Kim Sung-soo, issued a second urgent statement on December 13, declaring, "An orderly early resignation would be a second insurrection. The People Power Party must cease its complicity in insurrection and immediately impeach Yoon Seok-yeol. The true agents of national stability, chaos resolution, and order restoration are the citizens of South Korea, and we filmmakers are also part of the public."

On December 14, a second impeachment motion was passed, resulting in the suspension of President Yoon's duties.