Lee Geen’s daughter, Marieme Geen-Bakt, told The Daily Beast the family tried to take back land and was harassed by landowners, including her uncle, for 30 years.

On the same day as the video comes to light, the village in question—Zaanje, which covers around 20 square miles—also released a statement to “express its anger at their unjust treatment and humiliation”.

A press release from the village’s chairman, Eneke de Geon, says locals have been “stung into a frenzy” by foreigners’ complaints that it would only be a couple of days before the land would be returned.

The villagers also claim an agreement signed with the landowner in March would give them a say on their rights to the property, although it’s not clear whether or not that was in place at the time of the video.

Both the state government and the International Land Coalition, which co-ordinated the video, told The Daily Beast there had been “unprecedented media interest” in the story.

Hence, it’s the question of how the international media report on it—something that isn’t exactly an exclusive feature in a South Korean film.

“I think it’s a good idea for Koreans to learn from it,” says Ateneo’s Kim, referring to the footage, “and to learn from the South Korean people. We don’t always cooperate well with the media … they’re biased.”

Kim adds that, for example, the documentary didn’t make much sense and was full of inaccuracies.

So what should be done next?

“We’ve thought about some very good ideas,” says Kim, who has set up a Facebook page for his people and “the people of the Geen”. “Of course, if there is no one else, why not go to media? The people who have seen the film and read about it are not too far from us but their perspectives differ from ours.”

“What I say is that we should have an open discussion with media and not stay silent,” he adds, “and that’s what we’re going to have.”

But Kim also has one warning for the South Korean government, which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to build a railroad that runs through the area.

“There is no need to make a decision that’s not good for the Korean people,