Italian premiere | In Competition | White Mulberry Award Candidate
South Korea, 2026, 72’, Korean
Directed by: Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan, Cho Chul-young
Screenplay: Kim Jong-woo
Cinematography (color): Kim Myung-kyoon, Lee Sun-young, Cho Yoon-mi, Jeon Min-je
Producers: Jo Sona, Kim Shin-wan
Date of First Release in Territory: n/a
The Seoul Guardians is a gripping chronicle of contemporary Korean political history and a powerful testament to the enduring force of people-powered democracy. In an era when authoritarianism resurges across the globe and misinformation erodes public trust, the film stands as urgent political cinema, reminding us that democracy survives only when citizens refuse complacency.
On December 3, 2024, at 22:27 KST, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, accusing the Democratic Party of colluding with North Korean communists and threatening national security. Police vehicles and armed troops quickly surrounded the National Assembly, blocking lawmakers from entering to repeal the decree. What the administration failed to anticipate was the collective memory of Korea’s past struggles, especially the trauma of the Gwangju Massacre. Within hours, citizens and journalists flooded the streets, confronting soldiers and demanding the defense of democratic rule.
Directed by Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan, and Cho Chul-young, the film unfolds at breakneck speed as the filmmakers themselves document the crisis from inside the National Assembly. Shot in a raw reportage style, the documentary carries the pulse and immediacy of a political thriller, capturing the chaos, urgency, and danger of a night when history was being written in real time. Framing these events are the deliberations of the Constitutional Court as it considers the impeachment of the president for the unlawful declaration of martial law, grounding the unfolding drama within the broader machinery of democratic institutions.
With its immersive, on-the-ground perspective,
The Seoul Guardians places viewers inside the swelling crowds, the tense standoffs between citizens and soldiers, and the frantic efforts of lawmakers fighting to restore constitutional order. Thrilling and deeply consequential, the film is a reminder that meaningful political change is possible when the will of the people is strong enough to resist authoritarian power. In dark and uncertain times, it offers a rare and vital glimmer of hope.
Cho Chul-young
Cho Chul-young has produced nature documentaries and factual television programs. His work has addressed a wide range of subjects, including drug issues in South Korea, and corruption in college admissions involving the children of high-ranking elites.
Kim Jong-woo
Kim Jong-woo is a producer at MBC who has created a wide range of nonfiction television programs and documentaries. His Meeting You series, which centers on the concept of reuniting with deceased family members in virtual space, won the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Documentary Award.
Kim Shin-wan
Kim Shin-wan has produced talk shows and current-affairs documentaries at MBC, with a longstanding engagement in issues of education. Throughout his career, he has often stood at the forefront of moments that demanded innovation, launching new programs and leading major renewal of long-running ones.