Leaders use cinema visits to signal political, social agendas
President Lee Jae Myung talks with filmmaker Chung Ji-young, third from right, and actors after watching the movie “My Name” at a theater in Seoul, April 15. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
From a movie about a state massacre to an independent film tackling youth employment, Korea’s top leadership has recently utilized cinema visits as a tool to communicate the current administration’s core values and policy directions.
Over the past few months, President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young have each made appearances at theaters.
These visits are being interpreted by industry observers as a strategic move to highlight sensitive historical issues and hidden social problems through the lens of popular culture.
On April 15, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung attended a screening of "My Name" at a theater in Seoul. The drama centers on a mother whose repressed memories of the Jeju April 3 massacre resurface after decades. The tragedy involved a violent state-led crackdown on the island between 1947 and 1954, resulting in the deaths of up to 30,000 residents.
The president had previously promoted the film on social media, describing it as a work that delicately portrays the pain of an era and the process of healing.
To emphasize public engagement, Lee invited 165 citizens to join him through a lottery and remained in his seat until the final credits finished. During a post-screening event, the president stressed that crimes against humanity must be addressed regardless of how much time has passed.
“There is no time limit on accountability for mass killings backed by political power,” Lee said.
He compared the situation to Germany’s ongoing prosecution of Nazi perpetrators, underscoring the need for measures aimed at preventing history from repeating itself. The president also mentioned that the government recently revoked honors previously awarded to figures involved in the Jeju massacre.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, left, watches “The Final Semester” at a theater in Busan, Saturday. Courtesy of the prime minister’s office
Prime Minister Kim, meanwhile, chose to highlight the struggles of the younger generation and the importance of regional cultural infrastructure.
On Saturday, he traveled to the West Busan Cinema Center to watch "The Final Semester." The independent film, directed by Lee Ran-hee, follows a vocational high school student working in a factory.
After watching the film, the prime minister noted that the unique power of independent films stems from the critical perspectives they offer and their ability to bring about social awareness.
“One of the things I have been thinking about most lately is the lives and jobs of young people in their 20s, and this film made me reflect on whether I have looked at that reality deeply enough,” he wrote on Facebook. “I strongly recommend this movie to anyone involved in making policy.”
The prime minister is also a filmmaker. He directed "A New Family: Seniors Only," a 16-minute documentary about seniors living alone, which was submitted to the 2014 Seoul International Senior Film Festival.
Kim’s choice of a neighborhood media center in Busan rather than a major commercial multiplex was also seen as a nod to his goal of pursuing balanced regional development.
Chae also joined the trend by watching "The Square," an animated film set in Pyongyang. Directed by Kim Bo-sol, the movie explores surveillance and longing in the North Korean capital.
“I hope this work becomes another starting point that makes Korean animation exciting again,” Chae said after watching the movie in Seoul, Jan 14. The minister emphasized that the government is working to stabilize the industry, noting an increase in the number of applicants — from 120 in 2025 to 334 this year — for the government's mid-budget support program.
Industry insiders suggest that while these high-profile visits may not result in a box office boost, they provide significant symbolic support for independent and artistic films that struggle to survive.
“Movies are a powerful way for Korea to boost its national pride and strengthen its global influence,” a culture industry official said on condition of anonymity. He added that the government’s impulse to nurture the industry through these symbolic gestures is a natural and necessary one.