The Seoul Guardians - SIFF [2026]

The Seoul Guardians [2026]

Film

This film was viewed at the 52nd Seattle International Film Festival

In December 2024, then President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Stating anti-state actions from the Democratic Party of Korea, who at the time controlled the National Assembly (South Korea's Congress), as the reason, the President used the declaration to also restrict the press, close the National Assembly, and prevent any further legislation from continuing. This marked the first time martial law was used in South Korea since the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a notoriously deadly moment in the country's history. One that citizens cautiously remember, and tirelessly work to prevent from happening again.

The Seoul Guardians is a documentary film from directors Jong-woo Kim, Shin-Wan Kim, and Chul-Young Cho that captures the beginning of President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration and the ensuing chaos it spawned. Beginning with the televised statement from the president, The Seoul Guardians starts like any other journalistic feature, almost as if it were a narrative. Camera people start rolling while journalists gather their notebooks, and everyone makes their way to the National Assembly Building. The film features a terrifically taut environment, at times bordering claustrophobic, with its usage of boots on the ground footage. Multiple perspectives are spliced together from whoever was at the front lines of the building, demanding to know what was happening.

As the confusion grows, the police prevent lawmakers from entering the building where the National Assembly is hoping to repeal the martial law declaration. Meanwhile, masses of citizens pile onto the streets. The Seoul Guardians doesn't immortalize the lawmakers that were technically breaking the law by working throughout martial law, but the citizens that flocked to the building. Their cries, cheers, and screams are prominently featured throughout the montage style editing of the film. Thankfully the cuts between perspectives are close enough that this isn't a jarring amount of motion, but insightful journalistic commentary that doesn't try to hand-feed the audience anything. There are some explanatory moments from the unknown narrator but I found those tidbits more guiding than detracting.

Watching this as an American that isn't well-versed in South Korean history, the choice of the directors to include archival footage of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising was stellar. Comparing and contrasting the two events, the past with the present, did wonders for providing context to what could happen and what has happened. When the South Korean military and special ops units begin to flow in to remove the lawmakers from repealing martial law, the stakes couldn't be higher and the non-violent protests and resilience from Koreans was astounding to watch. The Seoul Guardians is as insightful as it is genuinely entertaining, and that balance is harder to pull off than it looks.

Froth

To put it plainly, The Seoul Guardians is a stressful enough watch that I wanted something easy and light to have on the side. I couldn't help but watch this documentary and think of some twisted future where we experience something like this and what that would entail. Ok I'm gonna stop thinking about that because...shivers. Anyways, I went with the Von-Siskel, a Dortmunder style Lager from Old Stove Brewing Co. that did everything I could've possibly have wanted. It's light, refreshing, and an incredibly easy drink especially when watching some heavy material. There's a really nice malty presence that delivers some crisp flavors along with a smooth finish that compliments it quite well. I'd consider it one of the better lagers I've had in recent memory!