Kim Gyu-ri Stands Firm Amid Controversy at the 11th Korean Film Producers Association Awards

On December 17, 2024, actress Kim Gyu-ri hosted the 11th Korean Film Producers Association Awards at Indie Space in Donggyo-dong, Seoul. This annual event celebrates the key figures in the Korean film industry, recognizing their contributions over the past year. A total of 152 films were nominated across 16 categories.

The prestigious Best Film award went to 'Seoul's Spring.' Kim Won-guk, the CEO of Hive Media Corp, expressed gratitude to the filmmakers who persevered through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "This year’s Best Film award is dedicated to those who created these 152 films."

Hive Media Corp is known for its impressive portfolio, including titles like 'Ordinary Family,' 'Handsome Guys,' 'The Man Standing Next,' 'The Drug King,' 'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,' 'The King's Daughter,' and 'The Outlaws.' 'Seoul's Spring' reexamines the significant historical event known as '10·26' from the late 1970s, achieving blockbuster status with over ten million admissions.

Despite concerns about producing politically charged films like 'Seoul's Spring,' Kim Won-guk humorously noted his appreciation for lighter comedies, such as 'Handsome Guys.' In response, Kim Gyu-ri remarked, "It’s wrong to define someone by a single color. Isn’t that a distorted view from the observer’s perspective?"

Kim Gyu-ri has been vocal about her beliefs since the 2008 mad cow disease protests, where she controversially stated on her personal blog that importing beef from cows infected with mad cow disease was akin to putting cyanide in one’s mouth. This led to a lawsuit from a U.S. beef import company, which she ultimately won.

Her anti-government stance resulted in her being blacklisted in the cultural and artistic community alongside figures like Moon Sung-keun and Kim Yeo-jin. In a 2017 interview with SBS's 'I Want to Know That,' she shared the struggles she faced due to this political framing, which hindered her career as an actress.

In 2018, a representative from her agency revealed that Kim had endured nearly a decade of harassment and threats from online trolls due to her emotional post during the mad cow disease crisis, and her name remained on the blacklist, complicating her entertainment activities.

Recently, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo criticized the opposition party for spreading rumors about contaminated water, referencing Kim’s past comments and stating, "No politician has taken responsibility for the chaos caused by the mad cow disease rumors. That celebrity who said they would rather eat cyanide than American beef is still active after changing their name."

In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-kook urged against the political blacklisting of entertainers, emphasizing that politicians should focus on serving the nation and its citizens rather than meddling in the cultural and entertainment sectors. He suggested that if they wanted to criticize, they should target politicians like Yoon Seok-youl or Han Dong-hoon instead.

At the awards ceremony, 'Seoul's Spring' won five awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Lighting, and Best Music. Jo Jung-seok received the Best Actor award for 'Pilot,' while Kim Go-eun won Best Actress for 'Burial.' The Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards went to Ji Chang-wook for 'Revolver' and Yeom Hye-ran for 'Citizen Deok-hee,' respectively.