It appears Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo and Busan International Film Festival commissioner Lee Yong-kwan have mended fences over Suh’s demand that Lee step down from his position, but concerns still remain over the independence of Asia’s premier film festival.

The rift surfaced during last year’s BIFF when the festival went ahead with the screening of “Diving Bell,” a controversial documentary about the Sewol ferry disaster, despite Suh’s objection. Busan City provides 6 billion won of the festival’s 12 billion won budget, and the mayor serves as the festival organizing committee chairman.

The Bureau of Audit and Inspection’s special probe of BIFF, an unusual move, and a regular review by the city government took place in November, suggesting that BIFF was being targeted for screening “Diving Bell.”

Last week the city suggested Lee, whose term expires in February next year, step down, and presented a list of irregularities discovered during its review. News of the meeting led to a storm of criticism from the film industry, which attacked the action as an attempt to muzzle freedom of expression, a move that would greatly damage the film festival’s independence.

Things came to a head when BIFF issued a press release on Jan. 26, explaining itself on the major points of contention presented by the city. It also said the organization should be given an opportunity to present a reform plan before the city demands personnel changes.

With tension escalating, Suh held a meeting with Lee the next day during which he is said to have expressed concerns about BIFF. Suh also pointed out that the festival needed to contribute more toward the local community by boosting the area’s film industry. Lee is reported to have promised a reform plan and a new vision for BIFF as requested by the mayor.

Unplacated, heads of 12 film industry organizations formed a committee to protect BIFF’s independence and called on Suh to step down as the organizing committee chairman.

The ball is now in BIFF’s court to come up with a new vision and a reform plan, but it is unclear whether it will be accepted by Busan. Film industry insiders are concerned that the city, and by extension the central government, is trying to control the festival by tightening the purse strings.

The phenomenal success of BIFF, which celebrates its 20th year this year, is largely due to its independence, which the festival’s visionary founding commissioner and successive Busan mayors have worked hard to ensure since its inception.

If Suh cannot understand this, he has no place in running BIFF. Festival programming should be the domain of the professionals who have the necessary expertise. Lee, part of the festival since 1996, is one of those professionals.

Suh does not understand the nature of film festivals when he says a personnel change is necessary. Film festivals rely heavily on the personal networking by the commissioner and programmers. Indeed, BIFF as it is today would be unimaginable without Kim Dong-ho, who served as the BIFF commissioner from 1996 to 2010.

It would not be an understatement to say that it is BIFF that put Busan on the map. It not only draws filmmakers and movie lovers from around the world, thus contributing to the local economy, but also enriches the lives of its citizens and gives it a reputation as a city of culture. The minute Busan begins to undermine the festival’s independence, its reputation as a city of culture goes down with it. There are many cities, such as Shanghai, looking to replace it as Asia’s foremost film city.

BIFF is the jewel in Busan’s crown; its mayor would do well to cherish it.