Steven Yeun and Jon Cho speak out against Hollywood strike, “Art should not be taken over by AI, we need a safety net” [28th BIFF]

[Ten Asia = Reporter Choi Ji-ye]

Actors Steven Yeun and Jon Cho have lent their voices to the Hollywood strike.

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, when asked about the Hollywood strike and creative AI, Steven Yeun said, “It is a privilege just to be able to talk about this here,”and added, “It has a big impact in an environment where the business of the film and series industry is changing. It is the future of many creatives.””I want to guarantee and serve as a safety net,” he said.

Jonjo said, “In the entertainment industry, as in other industries, there is a thing called automation. Humans are being replaced by machines, and there are points where people cannot do their work because of AII. Art is an expression of the human mind.””If I go to see a movie, I want to see works written by people and storytelling about human experiences,” he said.

He said, “I believe that the field of art and the ability for people to express their emotions should not be taken over by AI.” “For that to happen, there needs to be a corresponding amount of compensation. We need to create a system so that we can continue to create well,”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