Busan Film Festival Marred by 'Star Lateness Relay': "A Minimal Apology Was Needed"

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), while dazzling with the presence of stars, is facing criticism from the audience due to repeated tardiness and a lack of apologies from attending celebrities.

On the third day of the festival, held at the Busan Cinema Center on the 19th, scheduled events like open talks and stage greetings, highly anticipated by fans, were significantly delayed, leaving a sour note.

The open talk for the film 'People Upstairs,' initially set for 11 AM, saw lead actors Ha Jung-woo, Gong Hyo-jin, and Kim Dong-wook arrive about 15 minutes late, citing traffic congestion. However, they immediately proceeded with the film's introduction, resulting in approximately one-third of the scheduled event being cut short. While Ha Jung-woo offered a brief closing message, there was no apology for the delay.

A similar situation unfolded in the afternoon with the stage greeting for 'Wedding Reception,' starring veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung. The event began 15 minutes behind schedule, and Youn Yuh-jung and director Andrew Ahn commenced the proceedings without any specific explanation or apology. Although the host attempted to smooth things over by mentioning traffic, audience dissatisfaction remained evident.

Reactions from attendees were mixed. While some acknowledged that unforeseen circumstances like traffic jams are unavoidable, a significant number of audience members expressed frustration, emphasizing that a simple apology would have been the minimum courtesy. Criticism is mounting over a perceived lack of respect for the audience, who paid for tickets and invested their time.

The film 'People Upstairs' is a new work by director Lee Byung-heon, promising a realistic comedy. Ha Jung-woo and Gong Hyo-jin are expected to showcase incredible chemistry in this project. Kim Dong-wook has also hinted at a significant acting transformation in this film.