Junho the Movie

The story resonated deeply with me and the key creators of the project. After encountering similar stories in San Francisco, and across the US landscape, I wondered what the impact would be across the Pacific. With the forming of the #MeToo movement in South Korea (especially in the theater circle) gave me hope, it did not seem to achieve the scope I had anticipated. The news seemed to be laser focused on the perpetrators and the victims. While a valid angle on a case by case basis I could not sense any story, in any medium, reflecting the wider reaching effect on the bystanders in some deeply affected communities.

It was my fervent belief that we ‘bystanders’, have a voice, and could hopefully introduce a unique perspective in the push for systematic change, (not merely sorting out a few bad apples), and that gave me the motivation to visualize this story. This the story about different types of bystanders; some completely ignorant of what was happening, some directly involved in the traumatic incidents, and some living in denial, refusing to acknowledge their responsibilities as a member of a community.

By sharing this story, I wanted to contribute to the larger discourse surrounding these present issues. The perspective of the bystander may not be the most critical factor but I do believe that what appears as an ‘inconsequential’ shard, may turn out to be the puzzle piece necessary to complete the full picture.

Moreover, I felt it important to share this story that happened in Asian country, which occured in the aftermath of an imported ideology. The act of doing so has been very meaningful to me. My transition from a conservative culture, to calling one of the most liberal cities my home has not been overnight, so I felt it important to present this to viewers in the hope of side stepping the physical gap, and rather focus on fostering in-depth mutual understanding.