Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 619 Is humiliation detrimental to unity?
As soon as the question was raised, reporters from other countries at the scene immediately perked up their ears, revealing expressions of anticipation.

A faint smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Park Song-il frowned, about to lash out, but Wu Chen gently pressed down on his arm and took the microphone with a smile.

"I'm quite surprised by the matter of ancestral home."

He paused, glanced around at the enthusiastic journalists from various countries in the audience, and said in a relaxed and joking tone:

"Yesterday we were celebrating the Oscars, and today I woke up to find myself a descendant of the Baekje Dynasty? This spreads faster than Hollywood's PR department!"

If the media can arbitrarily rewrite someone's ancestral home, then we'd all probably need to change our passports to avoid accidentally ending up in South Korea.

A chuckle rippled through the room.

Wu Chen's words, though seemingly a joke, were extremely clever.

He didn't target the SBS reporter specifically, but included all the media present, instantly establishing an invisible line between "us normal people" and "the Korean media."

Reporters from other countries were now looking at the SBS reporter with a hint of hostility.

They are all too aware of the "flexible" maneuvering of the South Korean media on issues of history and national sovereignty; anyone could become the next victim in such a situation.

Wu Chen's tone was calm and gentle, but his eyes held a subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness.

"I saw that report too."

To be honest, I greatly admire the imagination of your country's media colleagues, as well as their ability to reshape history.

They were able to trace the director's Baekje ancestry from a psychological thriller about ballet; this kind of time-traveling creative approach even puts me, the director, to shame.

Some knowledgeable reporters at the scene couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

Wu Chen's words, ostensibly a "praise," were actually a sarcastic jab at the other party for "fabricating history," and the wording was extremely precise—"reshaping history," which is almost a universally accepted assessment of certain historical views held by South Korea internationally.

The SBS reporter's face flushed red and then paled, and he was about to speak in his defense when Wu Chen changed the subject, speaking in a more compassionate and artistic tone:
"But from another perspective, I can understand you."

Perhaps, when a nation desperately craves a sense of cultural identity but cannot find sufficient support within its own culture, it can only turn its gaze outward, trying to find its own shadow in the glory of others.

This feeling is worthy of sympathy.

As filmmakers, we create dreams. If our dreams can offer them a moment of comfort and a sense of belonging, then that is a good deed.

He then changed his tone, that compassion instantly transforming into a sharp blade, piercing the other person's sore spot:
"Of course, instead of being busy stealing other people's ancestors, you should pay more attention to the box office performance and script quality of your local directors."

This may be more promising than archaeology.

The room erupted in laughter, and many journalists from around the world put down their pens and began to applaud.

These words were devastating, on par with a nuclear explosion!

Wu Chen directly characterized the other party's behavior as "cultural insecurity" and "seeking spiritual sustenance";
And with a condescending and humane "sympathetic" attitude, he completely dismantled the hypocritical sense of pride in the other party's question.

The reporters at the scene were no longer looking at the South Korean reporter with a sense of amusement, but with a clear look of pity.

The SBS reporter was completely dumbfounded; his mouth was open, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Can he refute it?
To refute this is tantamount to admitting a lack of confidence in one's own national culture and the need to "piggyback" on the success of others. To remain silent is tantamount to acquiescing to Wu Chen's "compassionate" argument.

He was firmly nailed to the pillar of shame.

At that moment, Park Song-il took the microphone and coldly added insult to injury:

“My family’s graves for three generations are all in Heilongjiang. If the South Korean media really want to claim kinship, I suggest you form a group to visit our graves first. Maybe many of you will have to migrate here.”

That short sentence was incredibly powerful.

Park Song-il spoke with complete confidence. After all, he was a behind-the-scenes worker, and unlike Wu Chen and the others, he didn't need to appear on camera as frequently. He spent most of his time behind the camera and didn't need to think about so much. Even if his words caused any problems, he believed the hype would quickly die down.

The SBS reporter's lips trembled. Unable to withstand the double blow any longer, he forced himself to put the microphone away, lowered his head, and pretended to look through his notebook as if nothing had happened.

News of this exchange traveled back to China almost instantly, and Chinese netizens burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Wu Chen: 'Your country's ability to reshape history.' That's brilliant! That's what intellectuals are all about when they insult someone!"

"Songri: 'Go to sweep the graves first, then recognize relatives,' every word is deadly! Too ruthless!"

"The South Korean reporter must be cursing filth in his heart right now, hahaha, serves him right!"

"."

Meanwhile, the South Korean public was outraged after seeing the "humiliating" video, which was reposted by media outlets worldwide.

If Wu Chen and his group had fallen into the trap, that would have been fine. But being humiliated in Hollywood was unacceptable to them, so naturally they could only vent their anger on the instigator.

Angry comments instantly flooded SBS's official website and social media accounts.

"Aish! Damn it! Disgraceful! You've really embarrassed us internationally! Is this the level of our journalists?!"

"Haven't you learned your lesson from Director Wu Chen last time? Why do you have to go and humiliate yourself again! You idiot!"

"Our country's image is being ruined by brainless journalists like you! Get out of the media industry!"

This matter can be big or small.

But there are always people who like to take the opportunity to cause trouble, especially in this ambiguous phase of increasingly frequent film and television exchanges between China and South Korea.

In Tong Gang's office at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, his secretary was reporting on the matter to him.

"Boss, that's how it happened. Director Wu Chen and cinematographer Park Song-il's comments in the interview have already spread online."

"What does it matter? It's no big deal." Tong Gang waved his hand with a smile. "Besides, don't you know Wu Chen?"

The secretary stepped forward, looking troubled.

"Leader, the main problem isn't online; someone from the Film Association submitted a report complaining about Director Wu Chen and his group's remarks."
It is said that this damages the country's image abroad, affects international friendly relations, and is detrimental to the overall situation of film and television cultural exchanges between the two countries.

They suggested that Director Wu Chen and his team should handle the situation amicably, given the increasing interaction between the film and television industries of the two regions and the ongoing discussions about numerous projects. They advised prioritizing harmony and avoiding unnecessary friction.

After hearing this, Tong Gang's smile gradually faded, and his brows furrowed.

This kind of tactic of making a mountain out of a molehill and labeling someone is so common, how could he not know it?

It's nothing more than some people being jealous of Wu Chen's rising popularity and always looking for an excuse to give him a hard time.

"Flaw."

Tong Gang snorted, said nothing more, and simply picked up his teacup and gently blew on the tea leaves floating on top.

The secretary immediately understood the leader's attitude, so she said no more, bowed, and left.

A short while later, some low murmurs arose in an office of the Film Association in the Federation of Literary and Art Circles building.

"The General Administration is being too kind to Wu Chen. We're only doing this for the sake of friendship between the two sides and for the greater good."

"Yes, young people are too sharp and ambitious, and someone always has to remind them. Now, it's all messed up, and we've become the bad guys."

"This is too much favoritism; it's counterproductive. This kind of behavior will only hinder unity in the long run!"

"That's right."

(End of this chapter)