President Lee Jae-myung on the 15th watched My Name Is, a film about the Jeju April 3 Incident, at CGV Yongsan in Seoul. Before the screening, Lee said in brief remarks, "The Jeju April 3 Incident was truly a horrific event," adding, "A few days ago, as I watched similarly horrific events unfolding around the globe, I had the same thought."
Lee said, "Behind mass killings or brutal acts stands political power. Such things become possible when they are shielded or encouraged in the name of power," adding, "How violent and cruel can humans become, and can we fundamentally prevent this—those were the thoughts that came to mind."
The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing to abolish the criminal statute of limitations and the civil statute of repose for state violence crimes. In the midst of this, by publicly watching a film dealing with the Jeju April 3 Incident, which is regarded as a representative state violence crime, Lee effectively lent momentum to the party's legislative drive. Lee also said, "I believe this movie will open the way to creating a world where people hold hands, respect one another, and live together."
A president's moviegoing is used not as a simple leisure or hobby activity but as a channel to send political messages. In Aug. last year, Lee also watched Independence Army: The Unfinished War, a film about the life of Gen. Hong Beom-do. When a controversy arose over the transfer of Hong's bust from the Korea Military Academy, Lee raised his voice in opposition to the transfer. By watching the related film soon after becoming president, he effectively reinforced that stance.
Past presidents also used moviegoing as a means to send political messages. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol in May last year, as his first public move after martial law and impeachment, watched the documentary Is Election Fraud the Work of God?, which raises suspicions of election fraud. Although Yoon did not speak directly at the time, simply watching a film about election fraud had the effect of rallying supporters of Yoon who were advocating the election-fraud theory. Producer Lee Young-don also relayed that Yoon said, "Elections should be held without computers or other electronic devices, in the transparent manner used in Taiwan or Germany."
In addition, former President Moon Jae-in publicly watched films such as A Taxi Driver, about the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising, and 1987, about the June Democratic Uprising. He mainly chose films related to the democracy movement.
By contrast, former President Park Geun-hye mainly chose films that deal with patriotism and security awareness, such as Ode to My Father and Operation Chromite. The nature of the films chosen by the two presidents was completely different.
In the case of former President Roh Moo-hyun, he drew attention by watching King and the Clown at an ordinary theater during the first morning show. Even in 2006, when Roh watched King and the Clown, it was extremely rare for a president to visit a regular theater. It was a scene in which Roh, who had called for breaking down authoritarianism, revealed his usual convictions through his moviegoing.