[E-Daily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] The documentary film "Seoul at Night," produced by MBC's "PD Notebook," is set to be released in December.

It has been announced that the documentary film “Seoul at Night” is set to premiere on December 3. This comes two years after the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3, 2024.

“Seoul at Night” is a true-story thriller documentary that captures approximately six hours of events that unfolded both inside and outside the National Assembly, from the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, to its lifting. It vividly captures the actions of ordinary people who maintained order amid the crisis—from tense situations involving armored vehicles and helicopters to citizens standing their ground against armed soldiers.

The film goes beyond political interpretations of the events to focus on the process of how citizens weathered the crisis. By weaving together on-site audio and tense moments through dense editing, it delivers an immersive experience reminiscent of a thriller, allowing audiences to encounter events they previously only saw on the news in a theater setting.

The film sheds light on historical memories spanning from Gwangju in 1980 to Seoul in 2024. By reflecting on the significance the wounds of the past hold for today’s citizens and the power that united people in moments of crisis, it poses a profound question: what kind of present will we leave as a memory for the future?

The newly released “Seoul at Night” dawn poster depicts the National Assembly building glowing brightly beneath deep darkness and a crimson-tinged sky. Evoking the tense moments when citizens gathered to defend democracy even in the midst of crisis, the phrase “We finally welcomed the morning” symbolically conveys solidarity and hope.

The tagline, “One night that captured the world’s attention: a 72-minute, overwhelming on-site experience,” also catches the eye. It highlights the film’s unique approach—condensing events that unfolded over approximately six hours into 72 minutes to immerse audiences right in the thick of the action—and foreshadows the vivid tension to be experienced in theaters.

“A Night in Seoul” has also been recognized for its artistic merit at various international film festivals. Following its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival—where it ranked second in audience ratings among 500 films, including feature films, and received a Special Mention from the NETPAC jury—it went on to win the Black Dragon Award, the Silver Mulberry Award, and a Special Mention for the White Mulberry Award at the Udine Far East Film Festival.

At the Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival in Canada, it won the Best Social Impact Documentary Award, and it was also screened at the Seattle International Film Festival and the New Zealand International Film Festival. The fact that a film capturing a historic moment in Korea has garnered attention on the international stage adds to its significance.

The production team of *Nights in Seoul* stated, “This release, which coincides with the symbolic second anniversary of the declaration of martial law, is expected to serve as an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of that time and to reaffirm the significance of democracy and civic solidarity.”