Film “Crossing” May Be Banned from Theaters

South Korean film “Crossing” about a North Korean defector, who tries to bring his family out of the famine-stricken Stalinist regime, is embroiled in a lawsuit filed by director Lee Gwang-hoon. Speaking through his lawyer Moon Jeong-gu, director Lee claims that he has already written a scenario titled “The Conditions of Human” based on the story of North Korean defector Yoo Sang-joon. Directed by Kim Tae-gyun, “Crossing” was inspired by Yoo’s ordeal as well.



Director Lee’s lawyer also said that director Lee and Yoo had signed a contract to make a film about Yoo’s life and has been preparing for the past three years. The lawyer claimed that a court injunction was sought because director Kim has not discussed the matter with director Lee, although Kim had known about the existence of a scenario about Yoo. The request for an injunction applies to all theater presentations, as well as in the forms of DVD, video, and internet videos.

Vantage Holdings, the distributor of “Crossing,” has countered the accusation by saying that the director nor the film company has not violated Lee’s copyright and added that they are looking into taking legal measures themselves.

Source: KBS World