On the morning of September 19, an open talk for The People Upstairs, directed by and starring Ha Jung Woo, was scheduled at the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center. However, instead of the cast, only the host appeared on time to greet the packed audience. The MC reassured fans that traffic delays had caused the stars’ late arrival and filled the silence by chatting with attendees. Roughly 15 minutes later, Ha Jung Woo, Gong Hyo Jin, and Kim Dong Wook finally appeared to loud cheers, immediately diving into their discussion without issuing a formal apology for the delay.
Later in the afternoon, a similar situation unfolded during the open talk for The Wedding Banquet. Actor Han Gi Chan initially appeared alone on stage, explaining the absence of director Andrew Ahn and Youn Yuh Jung. About ten minutes later, Youn Yuh Jung arrived to an outpouring of applause, warmly welcomed by Han Gi Chan. Smiling shyly, she greeted fans with a simple “Thank you,” before Andrew Ahn also joined the stage.
While the audience at the venue responded with excitement and quickly engaged with the stars, online viewers who watched the livestream criticized the lack of direct apologies. Netizens commented, “Is it really so hard to say sorry?” and “Even being two minutes late usually calls for an apology,” while others defended the actors, noting, “The crowd loved them, so let’s not overreact.”
The outdoor stage events at BIFF, lasting around 20–30 minutes, are designed to bring stars closer to fans in a casual setting. Despite the tardy arrivals, the sessions ultimately carried on with enthusiastic audience participation, though the controversy has fueled wider debate about professionalism and courtesy at high-profile film festivals.
Sources: nate
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