As Asia's leading film event remains engulfed by scandals, staffers speak of a culture of inappropriate behavior by the festival's older, male leadership.
“We sincerely apologize over the sexual harassment case that occurred in our workplace,” the festival said in a statement, adding that it would “come up with a system to prevent recurrences.”
Days later, Huh, an experienced critic and film programmer who had worked with the festival and its support organizations for years, said that he would be resigning. Industry onlookers decried the situation, arguing that Lee’s moves reeked of cronyism and that stripping the festival director of budgetary powers would weaken the artistic independence of the festival.
Then the next bombshell dropped: Korean media outlets reported that, amid the turmoil, a festival employee had contacted the Center for Gender Equality in Korean Cinema with allegations of sexual harassment against Huh. More outrage ensued, with critics angered over the festival’s non-transparent characterization of Huh’s resignation as a “personal matter.” Huh’s accuser has remained anonymous, but he is said to have verbally harassed the employee and issued “inappropriate work orders.
As its leadership remained in upheaval, the festival attempted to move on from the controversy surrounding the allegations against Huh with its apology on Thursday. But a festival staff member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, tellsthat there has long been a culture of inappropriate sexual talk among the festival’s mostly male senior leadership.
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