Animal Con Artists

Director/Producer KIM Jongkwan | Korea | 80min | 4K | Color

Project Description

Budget

Logline

A docu series about animal fraud cases, including the 2019 high-profile case of secret euthanasia at Animal Collective Care, a true-crime documentary that uses testimony from whistleblowers and victimized patrons to uncover the secret euthanasia and animal fraud schemes that took place at the time.

Synopsis

With more than 3,000 dog farms operating across the country and a pet population of 10 million, dogs are among the most polarizing animals in South Korea. The disparity in how animals are viewed has led to extreme confusion, and a huge money-making system of animal rescue and sponsorship has developed into a business.

"The cruel truth" that South Korea prefers to ignore.

Director's Statement

In Korea, a country synonymous with high growth, the weakest and most delicate animals have been exploited. There are many people in our society who have exploited their compassion for animals for financial gain and horrific abuse. What have animal con artists done to endangered animals and their animal-loving supporters, and why animals?

This documentary reveals how these con artists operate and explores the lives of animals in our society.

	Director 5.18 Film Festival Grand Prize 〈Episode〉(2024) Jeonju Intl. Film Festival, Rough Cut Navigating 〈5.27 Uprising〉(2023) EBS Intl. Documentary Festival, The First Cut 〈5.27 Uprisng〉(2022) Producer EBS First Half Outstanding Program Award 〈Infinite Imiganation! Software in Life〉(2019) EBS Broadcasting Grand Prize 〈Travelogue Korea〉(2015)
Director/Producer KIM Jongkwan