Justin Jeon, “I was shunned by mainstream society… I’m happy that white people are becoming more empathetic and connected with Korean content” [28th BIFF]

[Ten Asia = Reporter Choi Ji-ye, Busan]

Former director Justin said he was happy that there was more sympathy and communication for Korean content in mainstream American society.

At 2 p.m. on the 6th, a press conference for ‘Korean American Special Exhibition: Korean Diaspora’ was held at the KNN Theater in Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan, and directors Lee Isaac Chung, director Justin Jeon, and actors John Cho and Steven Yeun attended.

On this day, director Justin Jeon said, “I am really happy to meet director Lee Isaac Chung of ‘Minari’ for the first time at the Busan International Film Festival,” and added, “I am glad that my white colleagues are now trying to form more consensus about Korean movies, art, entertainment, etc. There is also content to be introduced. “There are a lot of them, and I’m interested in what kind of things can come out of our Korean culture and what things are different,” he said.

This ‘Korean American Special Exhibition: Korean Diaspora’ was planned to provide an opportunity to look in depth at the world of work by Korean-American filmmakers active in Hollywood and to provide an opportunity to reexamine the position of the American film industry.

This year’s new film ‘Jamojaya’ (2023) by director Justin Jeon, who co-directed ‘Fast Lives’ (2023), a hot film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and the drama ‘Pachinko’ (2022), which won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 93rd American Academy Awards for actress Yoon Yeo-jeong. Director Lee Isaac Chung’s ‘Minari’ (2020), director Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Burning’ (2018), winner of the International Federation of Critics Award at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, ‘Columbus’ (2017), which features actor John Cho’s passionate performance, and ‘Search’ (As of 2018), a total of 6 movies can be seen.

However, due to the Screen Actors Guild’s strike, actors John Cho and Steven Yeun were unable to attend the GV.

Meanwhile, a total of 269 films will meet the audience at this year’s Busan International Film Festival, including 209 officially invited films from 69 countries and 60 community beef screenings. The opening film was ‘Because I Hate Korea’ (director Jang Geon-jae) starring Go Ah-seong, Kim Woo-gyeom and Joo Jong-hyuk, and the closing film was ‘The Emperor of Movies’ starring Yu Deok-hwa (director Ning Hao).

Busan Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr