Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Political scandals reduced to box office battles, entertainment ahead of snap election
Actor Kim Gyu-ri in a scene from upcoming film “The Pact” / Courtesy of Yeolgong Film Production Studio, Blue Film Works
By Baek Byung-yeul
With an early presidential election looming, Korean cinemas have transformed into an unexpected battleground for political narratives, reflecting the nation's heightened civic engagement.
Leading the charge is “The Pact,” an occult political thriller that has quickly garnered attention, climbing to fourth in ticket sales just days before its official release.
“The Pact,” scheduled to hit theaters on June 2, a day before the presidential election, is capitalizing on the surge in political discourse.
The film has drawn significant attention as it is seen by many to evoke former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, who were at the center of controversy following an abrupt declaration of martial law last December, which led to Yoon’s impeachment.
The movie features a prosecutor-turned-political candidate and a woman (Kim Gyu-ri) caught in a mysterious spell, with investigative journalists closely following their story.
Despite fierce competition from major Korean and Hollywood releases, “The Pact” is making a surprising leap to fourth place in real-time ticket reservations, drawing over 36,000 viewers as of 3:30 p.m., Friday, according to Korea Box Office Information System, — an unusual feat for a low-budget production.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol reacts while watching the documentary “Korean Election Fraud, God's will?" at a theater in Seoul, May 21. Yonhap
"The Pact" is not an isolated phenomenon. Recent months have witnessed a surge in politically themed films, from documentaries chronicling protest movements to dramas delving into historical controversies.
“Revolution of Light, Defending Democracy,” for instance, documents the protests and impeachment proceedings that followed the martial law declaration by Yoon. Other notable releases include “Again, Cho Kuk,” a documentary film that spotlights Cho Kuk, the former leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party.
“Korean Election Fraud, God’s Will?” is another recently released film that questions the integrity of last year’s general elections by raising allegations about electoral fraud. The movie has drawn considerable attention, especially after former President Yoon attended a screening and sparked significant reactions.
On May 21, Yoon watched the film at a Seoul theater together with director Lee Young-don and his supporters. During the screening, the audience applauded when a scene depicted Yoon declaring emergency martial law.
After watching the film, Yoon briefly told reporters, “It was good.” However, political parties have criticized him, arguing that despite the Constitutional Court ruling his declaration of martial law illegal and his subsequent impeachment, he has yet to show any remorse.
Political commentator Park Sang-byung remarked that the way these films are being consumed ultimately represents an attempt to rally supporters and is not a particularly positive move.
“Politicians should focus on conveying their thoughts and vision,” he said. “But when supporters of a particular political faction use movies as a way to build a fandom, we have to ask whether this is truly helpful for that political group.”
“Politicians’ actions should be subject to fair criticism. I don’t think it’s desirable for politicians to be consumed as a form of entertainment or through entertainment-related content. However, I believe this trend will only become more pronounced in the future.”