Korean film ‘Juror 8’ screened at Birzeit University in film festival

“Juror 8,” an award-winning South Korean movie released in 2019, was screened at Birzeit University in celebration of the Korean Film Festival in Palestine. The screening was organized with the Representative Office of the Republic of Korea in Palestine to mark the month of October; a special month for the Republic of Korea. 

Juror 8 portrays the story of Kim Joon-Kyeom, a judge who presides over the criminal trial which saw the first civil participation in South Korea, featuring eight jurors from different backgrounds. 

Attending the film screening were Si-jin Song, the representative of the Republic of Korea to Palestine, Dr. Ghassan Khatib, Birzeit University’s vice president for advancement, and a number of students, all of whom were introduced to the most popular and traditional dishes in Korea after the film screening.  

Prior to the event, Song met with Dr. Beshara Doumani, the university’s president, where they discussed academic cooperation initiatives with educational institutions and research centers in Korea, especially student and faculty exchange   programs. 

Doumani explained that Birzeit University is shifting its focus to Eastern Asia as a new hub for the university’s international cooperation efforts. “Expanding the university’s partnerships is a matter of survival for Birzeit University,” he said. “Not only are these collaboration efforts important for the success of our main mission, to become producers of knowledge, but it is also a matter of survival for Birzeit and higher education in Palestine. The Israeli occupation tries to limit our academic freedom and constrain higher education in Palestine. We, however, seek to transcend these restrictions through international cooperation.”

Song emphasized the need to expand academic cooperation with Birzeit University, which he described as the most prestigious higher education institution in Palestine. He also discussed the possibility of offering a new Korean -language course at the university to promote his country’s language and culture. 

During October, Korean’s celebrate their national foundation day commemorating the legendary formation of the first Korean state with the founding philosophy of humanitarianism. The also celebrate Hangeul Day, also known as “Korean Alphabet Day,” which is a day to commemorate the invention the 24 consonants and vowels of the Korean Hangeul.