Film festival chief found guilty of fraud
Print Edition
A SOUTH Korean court yesterday convicted the former director of Asia’s top film festival of accounting fraud, in what critics have called a politically-motivated case that has damaged the event’s artistic independence.
Lee Yong-Kwan, who headed the Busan International Film Festival until February this year, was given a suspended jail sentence for making fraudulent payments amounting to 27.5 million won (US$24,200) to a firm that brokers sponsorship deals.
Three other current and former BIFF officials indicted on similar charges also received suspended jail terms.
The case was brought against Lee this year as the prestigious annual festival was embroiled in a bitter row with state authorities over alleged political interference.
The dispute began in 2014 when the BIFF screened a controversial documentary about the Sewol ferry disaster, despite angry opposition by the mayor of the host city, Busan.
The film, “Diving Bell,” criticized Seoul’s botched rescue effort during the tragedy that killed more than 300 people, mostly school children.
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