Busan Film Festival Wrestles With Hollywood Strike Provisions as It Tries to Tell Story of Korean American Successes

Steven Yeun has bucked stereotypes and carved a new niche as sexy Asian leading man with his roles in “Burning” and “Beef.” Justin Chon transitioned from a supporting role in “Twilight” to directing “Gook,” “Jamojaya” and half of Apple TV+’s “Pachinko.” And Busan-born Daniel Dae Kim has expanded from “Lost” and “Hawaii” to becoming one of Hollywood’s leading producers.

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The stateside successes of Korean-born and Korean American talent are growing and are worth celebrating. But the Busan International Film Festival’s planned party is being dialed down a notch under the impact of the twin writers’ and SAG Actors strikes in the U.S.

Busan’s ‘Special Program in Focus: Korean Diasporic Cinema’ will go ahead with a screening schedule including six films, public talk sessions that include Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Isaac Chung, director of Oscar-winning film “Minari,” and John Cho, the Seoul-born “Star Trek” and “Searching” star. They will be joined at talks and fan events by Chon, Yeun and Yoo Teo, director of Sundance sensation “Past Lives,” Han Yeri and Christina Oh. But they will have to be careful what they say and do.

“Due to the ongoing strike by SAG, actors are subject to certain restrictions when taking part in foreign film festivals […] Actors John Cho and Steven Yeun will not be available to participate in the guest visits. Furthermore, they are not allowed to respond to nor comment on any questions related to American films and TV series they starred in during any festival events, including press conferences,” the festival warned this week.

However, Busan audiences will enjoy some exceptions to the strike regulations. Yeun will be allowed to interact and discuss the intense 2018 drama “Burning” as it was a Korean production. Similarly, the Celine Song-directed “Past Lives,” backed by A24 and Korea’s CJ ENM has received a waiver from SAG. “It is permitted to pose questions regarding these 2 films during festival events, including the guest visit,” the festival said.

The festival said that it is planning to go ahead with screenings of “Past Lives,” “Jamojaya,” “Minari,” “Burning,” 2017 title “Columbus” and “Searching.” The festival runs Oct. 4-13.

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