Jung Joon-ho Addresses Budget Cuts at Jeonju International Film Festival Press Conference
Actor Jung Joon-ho, serving as the co-executive chairman of the Jeonju International Film Festival, has drawn attention during a recent Q&A session. A video posted on the Korea Film YouTube channel on April 2 showcased moments from the press conference announcing the films for the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival, which took place the day before.
During the event, a reporter posed a pointed question regarding the significant budget cuts to the film industry under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, asking, "Are you aware of the reality behind this? Do you have any awareness of the issues?" Given Jung's role at the festival, the inquiry was particularly relevant, especially as the film industry faces challenging times.
Jung responded calmly, noting that the same question had been raised the previous year. He likened the situation to a family needing to tighten its budget when a business struggles, stating, "If a father's business is in trouble, shouldn't the family also cut back?" Despite his composed reply, the questioning continued, with references to Jung's visit to a nightlife establishment during last year's festival, leading to accusations of him being oblivious to the situation.
In response, Jung clarified, "Isn't it my duty to greet those who support the festival? I only stopped by to express my gratitude after my work was done that day." He also addressed a question comparing the increase in the Ministry of Culture's budget to the cuts in the festival's budget, saying, "Do I need to know all of that? My only intention is to enrich the Jeonju Film Festival. I fully understand your concerns."
Jung's demeanor and responses have sparked a debate among netizens, with some praising his polite approach while others argue that more concrete efforts are needed from him as the festival's executive chairman. As the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival approaches, running from April 30 to May 9, all eyes will be on its developments.
