Film Industry Demands Immediate Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol
On December 13, 2024, a coalition of 80 film organizations representing 6,388 industry professionals issued a statement demanding the immediate impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol and an end to the ruling party's support for insurrection. The statement, titled 'An Orderly Early Resignation is a Second Insurrection. The People’s Power Party Must Stop Supporting Insurrection and Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol Immediately!' was released in the morning.
The signatories criticized Yoon's two-minute address on December 7, where he stated, 'I will not evade legal and political responsibility, and I will leave the decision regarding my position and national stability to our party.' They noted that the only constitutional method to halt Yoon's presidential duties, a motion for impeachment by the National Assembly, was ultimately discarded due to the absence of votes from the People’s Power Party members.
The filmmakers had previously warned the party members in a statement on December 5, urging them to choose between being remembered as supporters of insurrection or as politicians prioritizing the safety and lives of the people. They expressed disappointment that the party members collectively left the assembly, disregarding their constitutional duty to act in the national interest, thus opting to protect Yoon.
The filmmakers, alongside many citizens, observed the failed vote with heavy hearts, hoping that the People’s Power Party would eventually heed the people's will and participate in the vote. However, they lamented that such a cinematic resolution did not materialize. They stated that in the chaos initiated by Yoon's declaration of a state of emergency, they could only envision impeachment or immediate resignation as outcomes.
On December 8, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and People’s Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon issued a joint statement promoting 'orderly early resignation' as a means to prioritize national interests over impeachment. The filmmakers expressed their agreement with the view that this unilateral statement, lacking a clear timeline for resignation, constitutes a second insurrection. They emphasized that a president who violates the constitution must be held accountable through constitutional means and that they will not tolerate any attempts to seek unconstitutional solutions.
The filmmakers asserted that the true agents of national stability and order are the citizens of South Korea, and they stand united in their call for Yoon's resignation. They highlighted that despite their diverse backgrounds, they share a common goal of 'Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation.' They criticized Yoon and the People’s Power Party for prioritizing power retention over the nation and its people, calling them the source of confusion.
They reiterated that the citizens have not delegated presidential power to Han Duck-soo, Han Dong-hoon, or the People’s Power Party. They condemned the rationale for abstaining from the impeachment vote as an attempt to privatize power, labeling it a second insurrection. They urged the party members to fulfill their constitutional roles and clearly state their positions regarding Yoon, who is currently committing insurrection, and to participate in the vote without hesitation if they deem the state of emergency unconstitutional.
This second statement was compiled from December 9 to 12 and included contributions from 80 film organizations and 6,388 individual filmmakers. Notable signatories include directors such as Kang Yu-jung, Kim Bo-ra, and Bong Man-dae, among many others.
