The director of 'Return' is back in theaters with 'Chohun, A Song Called Again' with the help of sponsorship.
On the 10th, a preview and press conference for the film 'Chohun, A Song Called Again' was held at Lotte Cinema in Konkuk University. Director Jo Jung-rae and actors Kim Jung-yeon and Yoon Dong-won attended.
'Chohun, A Song Called Again' tells the story of the student song group Deulkkot Sori, who shouted passionately alongside the workers of Samhyeong Industrial during their strike for survival rights in 1992.
This is the new work of Director Jo Jung-rae, who attracted 3.58 million viewers with 'Return', based on the true story of Japanese military comfort women. This film was also produced through community funding before its production, with investments from citizens.
Director Jo Jung-rae stated, "I first thought about making this film in 1994, and it is meaningful to be able to create and show this film," adding, "I was a student in '92 and dealt with that era, but I remember many college students being at the center of the activities, so I made college students the protagonists."
The film revives symbolic figures of the democratization and labor movements, including the late Lee Nae-chang, Lee Cheol-kyu, Kim Gwi-jeong, and the late Kim Kyung-ho, the chairman.
Director Jo explained, "There has always been a person at the center of my films. Before my interest in historical events and pain, I have a lot of interest in people," and added, "Many people were there to protect Korean democracy. Although I dealt with stories from the 1980s and 1990s, many people fell during the Gwangju Democratization Movement to protect democracy. I wanted to express how many fought for the democracy we have now."
He also mentioned, "I don't have many abilities, so I try to make films based on what I feel and learn within my knowledge. I didn't know much about the victims of Japanese military comfort women, but I wanted to film the shock and pain I felt while volunteering. When I entered university, I learned about the Gwangju Democratization Movement, and I cried a lot while paying my respects in Mangwol-dong, wanting to revive it in a film someday. I feel embarrassed to say it was made with a sense of historical mission."
Kim Jung-yeon said, "I'm nervous because it's my first time, but it's an honor to be able to show it," and added, "I looked for videos and felt that my seniors' songs were really cool."
Yoon Dong-won expressed, "I'm excited and nervous," saying, "I pondered how to understand the feelings within it. I didn't refer to a specific person but asked seniors or parents who lived in that era. While watching documentaries on YouTube, I realized that the spirit of resistance and culture of that time was captured in the people's songs."
Director Jo concluded, "South Korea is one of the outstanding democratic countries in the world. At the center of it are the youth, workers, and unnamed citizens who have been at the forefront and will continue to protect it."
'Chohun, A Song Called Again' will be released on the 19th.
