Film industry vows to defend screen quota
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Following a series of recent comments by government officials suggesting an intention to reduce the screen quota system, the film industry responded Thursday by demanding an open debate and declaring readiness to take strong action.
"The United States is mobilizing its pro-American network in Korea to pressure for a reduction of the screen quota system", a group of film industry figures said in a statement at a news conference in Seoul.
Voicing concerns that an attempt to reduce the system was already underway without public discussion, the group called for a meeting with Lee Jung-woo, chief secretary to the president for national policy, and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard.
Lee said the government was considering reducing the screen quota system in a bid to sign a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. Hubbard criticized the system as discriminative in a recent interview with a local daily.
The group vowed to take strong action to defend the system if necessary, including street rallies and sit-down demonstrations. The group announced that film industry figures would hold a street rally in the Gwanghwamun area Nov. 25 and stage a sit-down demonstration beginning Dec. 1 if its proposal was ignored.
"We will work to inform and persuade the public that maintaining the screen quota system is not an act of collective egoism but an indispensable effort to protect cultural sovereignty", said Prof. Jung Jae-hyung of Dongguk University.
Director Lee Eun explained that the group would use diverse methods to promote its cause, including conducting opinion polls, screening informational films and taking out advertisements.
The film industry had so far refrained from taking strong action that might alienate the public, putting faith in President Roh Moo-hyun's campaign promise to maintain the screen quota system and the influence of Culture Minister Lee Chang-dong, a proponent of the system.
However, under renewed pressure from the United States, the film industry is beginning to mobilize for a more active approach that will likely cast the contentious issue into the public spotlight once again.
By Kim Jin
"The United States is mobilizing its pro-American network in Korea to pressure for a reduction of the screen quota system", a group of film industry figures said in a statement at a news conference in Seoul.
Voicing concerns that an attempt to reduce the system was already underway without public discussion, the group called for a meeting with Lee Jung-woo, chief secretary to the president for national policy, and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard.
Lee said the government was considering reducing the screen quota system in a bid to sign a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. Hubbard criticized the system as discriminative in a recent interview with a local daily.
The group vowed to take strong action to defend the system if necessary, including street rallies and sit-down demonstrations. The group announced that film industry figures would hold a street rally in the Gwanghwamun area Nov. 25 and stage a sit-down demonstration beginning Dec. 1 if its proposal was ignored.
"We will work to inform and persuade the public that maintaining the screen quota system is not an act of collective egoism but an indispensable effort to protect cultural sovereignty", said Prof. Jung Jae-hyung of Dongguk University.
Director Lee Eun explained that the group would use diverse methods to promote its cause, including conducting opinion polls, screening informational films and taking out advertisements.
The film industry had so far refrained from taking strong action that might alienate the public, putting faith in President Roh Moo-hyun's campaign promise to maintain the screen quota system and the influence of Culture Minister Lee Chang-dong, a proponent of the system.
However, under renewed pressure from the United States, the film industry is beginning to mobilize for a more active approach that will likely cast the contentious issue into the public spotlight once again.
By Kim Jin
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