Screening of "Witnesses to Democracy" & Conversation with Kim Newton and Dr. Jeehey Kim

"Witnesses to Democracy: the Journey of a Mother and a Photographer" is an award-winning documentary film that tells the story of three people brought together by the tragic killing of college student Lee Han-yeol, whose death propelled the South Korean Democracy movement in June 1987. The film introduces us to Eunshim Bai, the mother of the slain student, Professor Emeritus Kim Newton, and Woo Seokhun. Newton, a former freelance photographer in Seoul, returned to South Korea a few years ago in the midst of a modern-day social uprising to participate in the making of this important social documentary.
This remarkable documentary was produced by the Korean director Manjin Kim. Kim's distinctive directing style is highly regarded within the Korean documentary professional community. His ability to deeply connect with the main characters, the sophisticated use of music, and his profound interest in South Korea's modern history and society have had a lasting impact on young South Korean documentary filmmakers.
After the conclusion of this film, there will be a Q&A session with Kim Newton, University of Arizona Photojournalism Prof. Emeritus, and Dr. Jeehey Kim, Photography History Professor in the School of Art.
This event was held with the support of the University of Arizona School of Journalism on January 25, 2024.