As a devoted fan of Korean cinema, I found the panel discussion at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah incredibly enlightening and captivating. The insights shared by the esteemed directors, producers, and industry figures from South Korea offered a unique perspective on the intricacies of their filmmaking process and the success of K-content worldwide.
The surge of Korean content, such as K-dramas and K-pop, was highlighted during a panel at the Red Sea Souk, part of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. However, the tumultuous political climate in South Korea over the past few days, including an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law by its president and a failed impeachment attempt, were not discussed.
A curious crowd came to the market in Jeddah Old Town Al-Balad to listen to the panelists, namely disaster-thriller Concrete Utopia director and screenwriter Um Tae-Hwa, mystery-thriller Somebody director Yeo-Jung Kim, Hyoun-soo Kim, director of funding and support at KOFIC, the Korean Film Council, and the founder and CEO of Barunson C&C, Woo-sik Seo, the veteran producer behind Bong Joon-ho’s Mother and Okja.
Masha Magonova, who holds the position of Strategy, Finance, and Operations Director at Library Pictures International, acted as the panel leader during a discussion where remarks were translated from Korean to English, Arabic, and various other tongues.
The gathering in Jeddah, focusing on South Korea, took place prior to the highly anticipated premiere of Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game” and shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law,” a decision swiftly reversed by legislators. On Saturday, Yoon expressed his apologies and pledged not to attempt the imposition again. However, protesters and political adversaries have demanded his resignation. An impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday fell merely a few votes short as many members of the country’s ruling party chose to stay away from parliament to boycott the vote.
Seo elaborated on the distinctions between Hollywood and Korean content, stating, “Many Korean film directors seem to possess an inherent ability to strike a balance between commercial appeal and artistic expression, a necessity born out of our inability to produce Hollywood-scale productions.” He continued, “We don’t have the financial resources, and we tackle different themes. Instead of creating heroes, we portray individuals grappling with internal conflicts when confronted by problems. As a result, our focus is on depicting the individual as a complex human being. I believe this is what makes Korean films resonate with global audiences.
As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share an insightful perspective: The panelists emphasized their commitment to crafting films tailored for Korean audiences, rather than striving for global reach. They believe that this targeted approach, combined with universal themes, is what truly propels the appeal of K-content across various regions worldwide.
In these Korean blockbusters like Parasite and Squid Game, Seo points out that the contrast between the rich and the poor, or haves and have-nots, is a theme that resonates globally.
Director Kim shared that her film “Somebody” tackles a universally relatable theme – maternal love. When asked about her interest in creating a Hollywood movie, she expressed: “I don’t rule it out entirely, but staying authentic and true to Korean elements for our Korean audience could pave the way for more opportunities.
Tae-Hwa Um also expressed: “I managed to visit Hollywood, and it seemed like a dream… These encounters led me to believe that Hollywood might not be as far away as I thought. However, it didn’t inspire me to see Hollywood as my ultimate goal. I am Korean, and my main focus is to create films that will captivate the hearts of Koreans, which is what fuels my passion and ambition.
The director clarified that while such an offer could potentially result in chances and proposals, he wouldn’t automatically accept it simply because it was an American production. Instead, he would evaluate if he could contribute significantly as a Korean director, and make his choice based on that assessment.
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2024-12-09 09:25