Seventeen years have passed. That is since I made Men Who Won’t Pick Up Guns. I’ve documented the conscientious objectors in Korea since 2002. I’ve been together with them through a dark and harsh decade during the conservative government and all the way to the moment when in 2018 the Constitutional Court ruled the introduction of alternative civilian service. Their still but perseverant walk proved their own existence and rang the bell throughout our society. Now you trace the peaceful path of the Korean conscientious objection movement, and walk into the times when the movement breaking a taboo.

In our history of split and hatred between the South and North, those who preserve their “conscience” have repeatedly been labeled as “reds.” The “army” has been so sacralized and absolutized that it has replicated “masculinity” and been weaving an androcentric society. To keep one’s conscience in such society entails confrontation with harsh punishment and prejudice. The conscientious objection to military service sought for introduction of alternative civilian service and diverse peace movements. I deeply empathized with those who spoke about “The heart being afraid to be in the position of assailant, the heart hoping for peaceful daily life.” It has been trembling to be face to face with them. Peace has won. Conscientious objection is not a crime!

2020 제12회 DMZ국제다큐멘터리영화제 한국경쟁 최우수한국다큐멘터리상