The annual event centered around themes of justice, freedom and human rights has chosen the documentary as its opening film.
The Seoul Larkspur International Film Festival, an annual event centered around themes of justice, freedom and human rights, has selected “National Organs” as its opening film. Other films are scheduled to highlight the human rights abuses of China and North Korea, with organizers reporting significant pressure from unnamed sources whilst confirming the screening list.
The opening ceremony of the festival was eventually held at KBS Hall at the Korean Broadcasting System Headquarters in Seoul, but it is not without obstacles.
“I saw real hope,” Te said on stage, addressing the packed hall. “When I first received the invitation, I had no idea how many people would come.”
Related Stories
“We lack government support and have not secured any major sponsorships or donations, but we will continue to speak out about freedom, justice and human rights as well,” Tay added.
Last minute cancellation
The Seoul Larkspur International Film Festival team spent a year preparing for the five-day festival, which took place from May 30th to June 3rd. Initially, the screening was arranged at CGV, one of Korea’s top cinema chains. After the CGV was pulled out, organizers moved the event to another major theatre operator, Megabox Dongdaemun.
Directors are asking for investigation
Raymond Chang, director of “The State Organs,” told the Epoch Times that during a screening in Taiwan last year, his team faced hundreds of threats via email and social media, and faced online harassment from a network located in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“We hope that South Korean authorities will investigate whether Chinese interference is involved in the cancellation and uncover the truth,” Zhang said.
(LR) Filmmaker Raymond Zhang’s panel host Roman Balmakov and director of world organisation Wang Zhiyuan will speak during the panel discussion on November 9, 2024, after screening for “national organs” in East, Angelika’s village of Angelika, New York City. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
“This crime needs to be stopped.”
Min Kyung-wook, a former South Korean lawmaker and presidential spokesman, shared his reaction after watching the documentary.
“I was shocked to see that the testimony of a family member suffering from pain, the first accounts of the doctors involved (extracting organs), and the confessions of police and soldiers who were once persecuted or tortured, which I hoped wasn’t true,” he told The Epoch Times.
Min denounced the forced collection of CCP organs, primarily Falun Gong practitioners, and called it a “crime against humanity.”
“I incredibly believe that such atrocities are being systematically carried out to curb faith and have risen to the level of state-supported industrial-scale businesses,” he said.
“We hope that the truth reaches the global community, not just Koreans. Therefore, these crimes can be stopped as quickly as possible.”
“We must stop this cruel massacre from continuing. We must be careful. We must act,” Lee told the Epoch Times after watching the film.
“If the Koreans don’t wake up, we’ll be another China.”
Dayner Kim, a well-known Korean YouTuber with over 288,000 subscribers, also spoke out after attending a screening for organs in the state.
He said that the persecution of Falun Gong and persecution of organ collections in the CCP are widely known, but that the film’s focus on a single family presents that reality with emotionally devastating depths. “It left me with a deep sense of sadness and solidarity,” Kim said.
Kim also condemned the sudden cancellation of multiple human rights films on Megabox.
“There are troops in South Korea working in conjunction with the CCP to block content that criticizes or exposes crimes. So we see sponsorships being withdrawn, venues being cancelled and films being banned,” Kim said in an interview after the screening.
He added a pointy warning: “If Koreans aren’t furious – if we don’t wake up, this country could become another China, and under CCP regulations it’s not different from the country.”
Lee, a native of Ulsan University, has expressed deep frustration about the obstacles he faced when the film was shown, calling it “painful and infuriating.”
“What sovereign nation are we if the film cannot even be freely displayed?” he asked. “We see clear evidence that CCP is deeply penetrating many sectors in Korea. It’s politics, the arts and academia. It’s heartbreaking.”
While denounced the CCP for interference in Korea, Lee reminds people to distinguish Chinese from CCPs.
“This film brings out a clear distinction between the two, which is what makes this film so meaningful,” Lee said.
The urgency of organ tourism and exposure
2017 documentary Korean TV Chosun revealed that only 10% of the 32,000 patients suffering from problems have undergone transplants due to low organ donation rates in the country. As a result, many Koreans are looking for a faster option in China. There, the waiting time is shorter and the access is easier.
Dafoh describes forced organ collection as a “crime against humanity,” working worldwide to promote ethical healthcare standards and protect human dignity.
Cindy Song, one of the producers of “The State Organs,” emphasized the importance of the film’s message to Korean audiences.
“The film’s victims are from Qingdao, across the sea from Korea,” she said. “I think it’s important for Koreans to hear this.”
Jing contributed to this report.
