[PIFF] Pusan Citizens Love Their Festival
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By Kim Ki-tae
Staff Reporter
Whether or not they know who Hou Hsiao Hsien is, and whether or not they are mad about Jackie Chan's films, Pusan citizens love the city's annual film festival, which has fast grown into the port's trademark. "It's lovely", said Yang Jae-hoon, a university student at Megabox Theater on Tuesday. "Personally, I don't often see films. But I like to see people come and enjoy the films in their festive mood", he said, mopping the floor of a shop where he works part-time.
Kim Da-eun, a volunteer worker at a box office in Haeundae, said many young people want to do whatever they can to contribute to the festival. "The festival began when I was a middle school student and since then I always want to be a volunteer for it", she said. "I am happy to do it now. It's fun".
For most of the merchants around the venues, the festival is a boon. Shops, raw fish restaurants and motels around the venues are packed with visitors.
"The sales have more than doubled nowadays thanks to the festival", a raw fish restaurant shop owner in Haeundae said.
The past 10 years has also familiarized the host citizens with filmmakers. "I can now tell those film-related people apart", said Park Sang-je, a taxi driver. "I don't know how, but after giving rides several times to those people, I can recognize their peculiar demeanor".
Some, however, say they have already seen "enough" celebrities. Cho Chu-hong, who has run a tiny shop just behind the outdoor theater in Nampo-dong for the past 10 years, has had a number of stars standing in front of his shop and buying beverages from him. However, he said they are not really that welcome.
"When famous people come into my shop, groups of fans and other people always barge in following them. They always leave my shop in a mess".
He still said he has reasons to like the festival. "During the events, sales go up 50 percent", he said, grinning.
To Lee Kyong-rae, a security guard at Megabox Theater, the festival means hard work. "I must be vigilant all day long in case of any unexpected accidents such as with crowds pushing to see celebrities", he said. "I am a bit worried about the possibility of that, but in general, I don't think it's too bad", Lee added.
Although theaters and plazas are overcrowded, surprisingly few undesirable incidents have occurred, said one Nampo-dong police officer, who asked not to be named. "There are exceptionally few undesirable incidents around the theaters during the festival, just the occasional pickpocket perhaps", he said. "Maybe, I think, film lovers are mostly civilized people".
Staff Reporter
Whether or not they know who Hou Hsiao Hsien is, and whether or not they are mad about Jackie Chan's films, Pusan citizens love the city's annual film festival, which has fast grown into the port's trademark. "It's lovely", said Yang Jae-hoon, a university student at Megabox Theater on Tuesday. "Personally, I don't often see films. But I like to see people come and enjoy the films in their festive mood", he said, mopping the floor of a shop where he works part-time.
Kim Da-eun, a volunteer worker at a box office in Haeundae, said many young people want to do whatever they can to contribute to the festival. "The festival began when I was a middle school student and since then I always want to be a volunteer for it", she said. "I am happy to do it now. It's fun".
For most of the merchants around the venues, the festival is a boon. Shops, raw fish restaurants and motels around the venues are packed with visitors.
"The sales have more than doubled nowadays thanks to the festival", a raw fish restaurant shop owner in Haeundae said.
The past 10 years has also familiarized the host citizens with filmmakers. "I can now tell those film-related people apart", said Park Sang-je, a taxi driver. "I don't know how, but after giving rides several times to those people, I can recognize their peculiar demeanor".
Some, however, say they have already seen "enough" celebrities. Cho Chu-hong, who has run a tiny shop just behind the outdoor theater in Nampo-dong for the past 10 years, has had a number of stars standing in front of his shop and buying beverages from him. However, he said they are not really that welcome.
"When famous people come into my shop, groups of fans and other people always barge in following them. They always leave my shop in a mess".
He still said he has reasons to like the festival. "During the events, sales go up 50 percent", he said, grinning.
To Lee Kyong-rae, a security guard at Megabox Theater, the festival means hard work. "I must be vigilant all day long in case of any unexpected accidents such as with crowds pushing to see celebrities", he said. "I am a bit worried about the possibility of that, but in general, I don't think it's too bad", Lee added.
Although theaters and plazas are overcrowded, surprisingly few undesirable incidents have occurred, said one Nampo-dong police officer, who asked not to be named. "There are exceptionally few undesirable incidents around the theaters during the festival, just the occasional pickpocket perhaps", he said. "Maybe, I think, film lovers are mostly civilized people".
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