President Lee Jae-myung Visits Busan International Film Festival, Pledges Support for Korean Cinema

President Lee Jae-myung visited the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) to express his strong hopes for the revival of the Korean film production industry.

On the 20th, the President and his wife attended the screening of the official selection film 'Times of the Theater' in Haeundae-gu, Busan. This anthology film, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the art cinema CineCube, is a compilation of 'Chimpanzee' by director Lee Jong-pil and 'Naturally' by director Yoon Ga-eun. It was officially invited to the 'Today's Korean Cinema - Panorama' section at this year's BIFF.

Following the screening, during the Audience Q&A session, President Lee personally engaged with the directors, posing questions that highlighted his keen interest. He asked director Lee Jong-pil about the production budget, to which the director responded with 70 million KRW. President Lee then pledged, "I will pay more attention," signaling his commitment to supporting the film industry.

First Lady Kim Hye-kyung also took the microphone, inquiring about the connection between the two directors. Director Yoon Ga-eun referred to director Lee Jong-pil as a "senior she dreamed of working with," while director Lee expressed his happiness in realizing a long-held wish to collaborate. The exchange underscored a mutual respect and admiration.

Concluding the event, President Lee stated, "Film is a comprehensive art form and a significant industry. I have heard that the Korean film production ecosystem is deteriorating. Our government will provide ample support to ensure the film industry grows strong from its foundations."

President Lee Jae-myung has consistently shown support for the arts and culture sector throughout his career, including during his tenure as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. He is recognized for implementing policies aimed at assisting underrepresented artists. As president, he is expected to actively seek practical measures to foster the growth of the Korean film industry.