'I am a survivor' faced three lawsuits for injunction against broadcasting even before its release. Can it turn South Korea upside down once again, despite all the external pressures and obstacles?
Netflix held a production presentation for the documentary 'I am a survivor' at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul, on the morning of the 13th. The director of the work, PD Cho Sung-hyun, attended the event and shared insights about the program under the moderation of announcer Park Hye-jin.
'I am a survivor' is the second story of 'I am a god,' which attracted attention when it was released in 2023. It is a documentary series recording the voices of survivors of four horrific incidents that shocked South Korea and the stories of that day that must not be repeated.
The earlier released 'I am a god' focused on the dark aspects of those who claimed to be gods and the victims suffering as a result, ringing the alarm. The second story, 'I am a survivor,' is planned to consist of eight episodes and warns of future tragedies that are still ongoing and may be repeated.
In this context, PD Cho Sung-hyun noted, "I felt heavy-hearted." This is because they are currently embroiled in three lawsuits for injunction against broadcasting from JMS, even though the program is set to be released. He expressed, "I asked for the public to watch our program at 4 p.m. on August 15, but I felt heavy-hearted thinking, what if we can't actually release it? Please support us."
He continued, "The result of the injunction application has not come out yet. There was a court hearing yesterday. Before our broadcast, three applications for injunction were submitted. They are asking not to air the program, and I don't understand why they have to go this far to block it. This indicates that it is uncomfortable for someone, both in Season 1 and Season 2. I think this is something everyone should know. I trust the courts of South Korea. I believe they will make a good judgment for the people."
Regarding the intent behind overcoming such external pressures, PD Cho Sung-hyun explained, "I thought of the name first. This is because, seeing the circumstances surrounding our most representative victim, a friend named Maple, in 'I am a god,' my thoughts solidified. In my view, this friend was a remarkable person who escaped from a state of brainwashing and fought and won against someone who thought he was God. But there were many different reactions online. It was particularly heartbreaking to see comments like, 'How foolish could you be?' They are not just people to be called 'victims.' They survived hell and deserve to be treasured and respected in our society, so we decided on the title 'I am a survivor' and continued with the planning."
'I am a survivor' addresses the voices of survivors of four tragic incidents: JMS, the Brothers Home case, the Jisunpa incident, and the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store. Is there a specific reason for selecting these four incidents? PD Cho Sung-hyun said, "First, we focused on the most tragic disasters that occurred in South Korea that should not be repeated. We chose incidents where survivors are still available to testify. Among those, we selected people who could share multidimensional stories that are different from what we knew about the incidents. The first case that came to my mind was the Brothers Home incident that I covered 12 years ago. Back then, many people were still hidden, but after 12 or 13 years, meeting them again made me realize it was a completely different incident from what I had known. Their suffering continued. The important thing was that it was an incident with survivors, one that South Korea should not forget and which has relevance today. Although it has been a long time, if you look at it, this issue is still repeating, and I believe their hell has yet to end, so we selected this topic."
In the two years of production, there were memorable events. PD Cho Sung-hyun stated, "I am familiar with the emotion of anger while working. I have often been angry on behalf of others. However, I cried a lot during interviews this time. Meeting these people, I often felt that I was unaware of such a tragic incident. I also thought about how these individuals could not speak out. It was most challenging to have those who had not been able to sit in front of the camera and have the courage to speak up."
He emphasized, "For example, the son of the director Park In-geun of Brothers Home was one of the first among the families to acknowledge their wrongs and apologize. To convince them to participate took almost a year of investigation. Maple could only be met about a year and two months after Season 1. Many people found it difficult to come forward. The reason was simple: they empathized with, 'Such things must not be repeated.'"
'I am a survivor' aims to vividly recreate the scenes of these four incidents and convey the voices of the survivors. Regarding this, PD Cho Sung-hyun said, "For survival to mean something, it should reflect the environment where those individuals survived. I believe I have depicted four hells. In the case of Brothers Home, I checked the blueprints and space to recreate the environment they were in. In that moment, I wanted to show what kind of hell they were in and whether there are still hells they cannot escape from."
Did the survivors have any requests during the filming process? PD Cho Sung-hyun mentioned, "Whenever I went to meet the victims of Brothers Home, I always heard one thing. They constantly wished, 'Please let us get an apology. I just want to hear someone say they are sorry.' Some have suffered for as short as 30 years and as long as over 40 years. Recently, there have been attempts of extreme choices and some have passed away. Yet, none from the state, police, or Busan City have offered a single apology. Although the government has acknowledged the damage and promised compensation, how should we interpret a situation where no one has apologized? I even asked the previous government if they intended to apologize and went as far as Australia to inquire about their willingness to apologize. I sincerely hope that the state has the courage to offer sincere apologies to these victims."
Moreover, he addressed some criticisms regarding sensational videos in Season 1, noting, "JMS once sued me because they claimed I made a video of them. It went all the way to the prosecution, and while it was cleared without indictment, they appealed. The appeal decision noted that there were more sensational videos I had received but did not air, showing the grounds for appeal were invalid. It stated, 'The accused, Cho Sung-hyun, did not air the more sensational videos he had received.'"
He continued, "I ponder over what scenes I should present. However, I understand how difficult it is when one has to testify the pain they couldn't even speak of to the families of each participant. I have the resolve to ensure that everyone will know what they need to know. Isn't that the essence of journalism? It seems meaningful to show it while maintaining an appropriate level of sensitivity. Maple publicly shared an interview with us through a broadcaster about six months before Season 1 aired. However, no one paid attention to it. I think the issue was not whether we sanitized it. There can be various interpretations regarding sensationalism. Fortunately, in Season 2, we didn't focus so much on sexual violence but rather on structural issues. This may allow viewers who found it hard to approach to view it more comfortably. However, I anticipate there will be other content that is difficult to accept, considering it is a promise made with the survivors."
Furthermore, PD Cho Sung-hyun discussed the motivation behind creating Season 2, stating, "In the end, it was due to a promise. I often questioned why I was doing this. Recently, after finishing the edit and finding some respite, I organized the cases I had been sued for over a year, tallying up to six incidents. Once, my son asked, having overheard me talking with my wife, 'Is Dad going to jail?' At that moment, my heart shattered with pain. Nonetheless, I felt compelled to endure because of the promise I made with many people who trusted me and shared their stories. Once, someone expressed fear about their son hearing about what they had gone through, yet they still bravely testified about their hellish life. The reason was their agreement to let society know about the social atrocities. It was due to promises made with many individuals."
There was also a potential for leaks during the production process. PD Cho Sung-hyun addressed the program's security issues, stating, "We learned that all our information was leaked during the last season. Even the edited version ended up in hands of those wanting our information. The reason for this was that at the time, there wasn't just one spy who infiltrated our team comprised of JMS believers. Those individuals eventually broke free from their brainwashing and left. They provided testimony in front of our cameras and shared vital information with us, which was immensely helpful for Season 2. Naturally, we had concerns about how to prevent such incidents, but concluded that no matter how hard we try, we couldn't determine who it is, and the possibility of having believers among them remains constant. While reviewing the pending application for an injunction, I thought that this time, there hadn't been many leaks—everything was based on 'assumptions.' I believe that no specific information was leaked this time."
Additionally, he explained, "Our program has no narration. From the production team's perspective, this is a significant difference. It is extremely challenging to fill it solely with testimonies of the people directly involved without creating easy, entertaining scripts for celebrities or having a voice actor read in an engaging style. We filled everything with survivor testimonies. It was a painful endeavor. We could document their diverse perspectives and unheard stories over a long period of time. The strength of the recreated hell and the stories of survivors cannot be compared to anything else. Given the effort invested, I believe that added a certain value. While some may feel that they have heard a lot up to now, I believe our goal and responsibility is to surpass those prejudices. I hope viewers will take an interest and see the other true stories beyond what they thought they already knew."
He even mentioned, "I have a group chat with JMS believers who have withdrawn and are now working with me." PD Cho Sung-hyun said, "I'm genuinely happy when they tell me they left after watching 'I am a god.' I hope such events will continue to happen. There are still believers remaining, families of those who are still trapped in there, and I understand the gravity of the pain they carry. You can consider my message as a plea for those who have gone through all those experiences to please come out."
Furthermore, he expressed, "I want to emphasize that I feel pained about the Brothers Home incident compared to other cases and continue to talk about it because I hope they receive a proper apology. It is not a significant request—just an apology. I have even traveled to Australia to seek an apology for the bereaved families. Yet, no one has apologized to these individuals. I sincerely hope this broadcast offers them an opportunity to receive a proper apology."
He also stated, "Additionally, I have reflected on what I have gained over the past four years. The situation where half of the believers withdrew from JMS has been a comfort to me, and considering that the leader Jeong Myeong-seok received a 17-year sentence and facing many citizens seeking to report him has made it hard for him to survive brings me some solace. My happiest news, however, is not of this nature. There are individuals who initially should not have been able to marry. Among those in JMS, there are individuals branded as 'stars' who believed they were married to God. Now, they are marrying and having children. Maple will also become a mother to a daughter in December. Although other matters do not provide significant comfort or fulfillment, I think witnessing them regain their daily happiness is worth pursuing."
This process has seen sacrifices made by their families as well. "When Season 2 began, I thought I wouldn't make this plan and I was quietly starting to gather information for production. My family was unaware of what I was creating," he disclosed, sparking concern.
He articulated, "When I heard their story during our meeting, I sensed something was off. I realized that dangerous situations could arise for my family, prompting me to be cautious. I took my wife to the police station without properly explaining and requested protection. It wasn't about me, but I was worried about my family's safety. That day, the police acknowledged that we were in need of protection. It wasn't a positive outcome."
Consequently, PD Cho Sung-hyun shared, "My wife was so upset after receiving a phone call from an informant that she didn't say anything on the way home and was very angry, spending a week away from home, near my workplace. I felt the most remorse during that time. There is still guilt regarding my family. When our first and second children play at the playground, my wife says it's normal for other moms to worry about injuries, while I am preoccupied with whether people are approaching. I often wonder if I am imposing my family's sacrifices as my own duty," yet he reassured, "I believe my children will eventually judge that what I did was meaningful. Indeed, my son, who is in first grade, once asked when he would be able to see what his dad made, to which I told him he'd see it in ten years. I believe that when that time comes, he will regard the painful moments he cannot remember and recognize that his dad did something worthy of his choices."
In closing, he remarked, "Only two days remain until the release. I don't see this as merely a conclusion of past stories. I hope that in the four-part series, you focus on the fact that when human value declines, and we disregard the worth of human beings, we can witness the consequences of that." He added, "All four incidents were occurrences stemming from human value being regarded as lower than money, power, and pleasure. I hope to evaluate how society values human life. Following this series, I hope we can reflect on what structural changes need to happen; the stories shared are still ongoing. This is a narrative that remains unresolved."
'I am a survivor' is set to be released on the 15th at 4 p.m. on Netflix.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix.
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