Jung Joon-ho attended the press conference in his capacity as co-committee head to announce the lineup for the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival. During the event, a reporter asked, “Are you aware that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has drastically cut the film industry budget? Do you not see this as a problem?”
While the use of public funds makes this a legitimate question for a reporter to raise, the issue was with the reporter’s confrontational attitude. The reporter interrupted responses and fired off questions in a way that made many in the room uncomfortable.
After listening to the question, Jung Joon-ho calmly asked the reporter’s affiliation and responded “You asked a similar question last year.” Addressing the budget cuts, he explained, “If a father’s business is struggling, it’s only natural for the family to tighten its belt.”
However, the reporter continued pressing, bringing up Jung Joon-ho’s visit to an adult entertainment venue during last year’s film festival, implying inappropriate behavior, and asked pointedly, “Are you just not thinking at all?”
Even at this moment, Jung Joon-ho responded with composure, “Isn’t it proper to greet those who sponsor the film festival? That night, all my official duties were over, so I stopped by to express my thanks.” When asked if he knew that the Ministry of Culture’s budget had slightly increased, he smiled and replied, “Do I really need to know that?” He concluded “My only intention is to make the Jeonju Film Festival more vibrant. I fully understand your concern”, maintaining honorifics and a respectful tone throughout.
This four-minute video, posted by Korea Film on April 3, garnered 95,000 views and over 2,100 comments. Most commenters praised Jung Joon-ho and criticized the reporter, saying things like, “Why is the reporter angry? It felt like a government audit”, “Reporters should manage their emotions before asking questions”, “That kind of question could provoke anger, but Jung Joon-ho was classy and composed” and “Learned a lesson in calmness from Jung Joon-ho.”
In a media landscape often charged with hostility and sensationalism, Jung Joon-ho’s poised demeanor has become a powerful example of grace under fire, winning admiration not just for his professionalism, but for his dignified leadership in the arts.
