Directing
Witnesses 2026 presents two short documentaries produced by Newstapa. Defiance: The Refusal to Kill traces the legacy of state violence committed under South Korea's first martial law after the 1948 Yeosu–Suncheon Uprising. Through the memories and belongings of survivors and bereaved families, it restores a forgotten history. Living with Invisible People follows Yuseon, who spends her days drawing the "invisible people" that haunt her small room, accusing, threatening, and gradually consuming her everyday life.
The underground structures scattered around East Asia and their history. Starting from Busan, the film explores Jeju, Okinawa and many other places of painful history in East Asia. As the recent images are overlaid by past voices, unforgettable historical memories are recalled. The lasting underground structures remain as a scar of history.
Witnesses 2025 is an omnibus of two short documentaries. 1948, 사라진 병사들 traces the truth of the Yeosu–Suncheon Rebellion, which began on October 19, 1948, when soldiers of the 14th Regiment refused orders for the Jeju April 3rd suppression, declaring they “could not kill their own people.” 얼굴, 얼굴들 follows the life and legacy of a friend who dedicated himself to uncovering the truth behind state-sanctioned suspicious deaths.
Kim Hee-gap is a legendary composer who has written over 3,000 popular songs in South Korea, including Leopards of Kilimanjaro and Nostalgia. A documentary about his life, shot from 2014 until now, showcases the history of K-pop music. These songs are essential to our lives, and their stories live on.
