Director Kwak Kyung Taek’s latest film, Firefighters, is facing boycott calls amid political tensions following the failed impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The motion was dismissed on December 7th due to a lack of quorum, but the ripple effects have reached the entertainment world, with Firefighters caught in the crossfire.
Firefighters, which opened on December 4th, tells the story of the 2001 Hongje-dong fire tragedy, highlighting the bravery and sacrifices of first responders. Directed by Kwak Kyung Taek, known for Friend and Dark Figure of Crime, the movie endured a four-year delay due to COVID-19 and lead actor Kwak Do Won’s DUI scandal. Despite the hurdles, it finally premiered to solid audience interest.
However, controversy arose when netizens began associating the film with political turmoil. Kwak Kyung Taek’s brother, Kwak Kyu Taek, is a member of the People Power Party and did not participate in the December 7th vote on the impeachment motion. As a former prosecutor and elected representative for Busan’s Seo-dong district, Kwak Kyu Taek has received public criticism for his absence during the critical vote.
Director Kwak’s previous active involvement in his brother’s campaign has now drawn ire from online communities, some of which have labeled Firefighters as a “traitor’s movie” or “insurrection film.” Calls for a boycott intensified as anger over the impeachment failure shifted toward Kwak Kyung Taek himself.
Firefighters pledged to donate 119 KRW (approximately 0.09 USD) per ticket to the National Fire Hospital, set to open in 2025. Critics poured out their anger with comments like, “I’d rather donate to them myself than support this movie.”
Despite the backlash, Firefighters is performing well at the box office. It has maintained the top spot in ticket sales and ranked second in daily box office numbers as of December 8th, its fifth day of release.
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