KBS has officially halted the production of the Sewol Ferry Tragedy 10th Anniversary Documentary, sparking a wave of disappointment and controversy. The decision, as explained by Lee Jae Won, director of productions, was influenced by concerns that airing the documentary in April could affect the upcoming general elections. The documentary was approximately 40% complete at the time of the suspension.
Efforts to reverse the decision were unsuccessful. Jo Ae Jin, a member of the DocuInsight team, talked about the suspension at a press conference on February 19. Jo revealed that the documentary was meant to be part of a series focusing on recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), linking it to other tragedies to avoid influencing the general election scheduled for April 18.
Lee In Geon, the director of the documentary, expressed his disappointment in a separate interview. He apologized for being unable to share the survivors’ stories due to what he called “unacceptable reasons.” Lee In Geon added they would escalate the issue to the Fair Broadcasting Commission if it remains unresolved after the scheduling committee meeting set for the following Tuesday, the 27th.
APRIL 16, 2014 • APRIL 16, 2022
Today marks the 8th anniversary of One of the most tragic incident that happened in Korean History.
It's been 8 years since the Sewol Ferry Tragedy.Let's continue to pray for all victims🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/3tozdxB595
— dalgome (@dalgomchu0301) April 15, 2022
KBS doubled down on the suspension
In response to inquiries about the documentary’s suspension, KBS doubled down on the suspension. They reiterated that the decision to air the documentary after June was intentional. It would allow the inclusion of other major disasters like the Cheonan Naval Ship sinking and the Daegu Subway Disaster, aligning with the original concept. Reportedly, the decision came shortly after the new director assumed office in December of the previous year.
Korean netizens have expressed frustration and disappointment with KBS’s decision. Many told the production team to take the documentary to a streaming platform like Netflix for airing. Their sentiments reflect a serious dissatisfaction with KBS’s handling of the issue.
What do you think KBS should have done? What should the production team do? – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Unfortunately, the documentary may never see the light of day now. Source: X/@4evrTin7.