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Documentary ㅣ JEONJU Cinema Project: Next Edition - Korean

HOROOMON

LEE Ilha
Korea,Japan 100min 4K Color/B&W Documentary
Production StatusProduction
Goal of ParticipationProduction Company Meeting, Distributor Meeting, World Sales, Fundraising
Production budget381,070,000 KRW
Budget Required191,070,000 KRW
Secured budget
  • DMZ International Documentary Film Festival[Development Fund] : 10,000,000 KRW
  • Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA)[Development Fund] : 10,000,000 KRW
  • Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA)[Production Fund] : 150,000,000 KRW
  • Self-funding : 20,000,000 KRW
LOGLINE

A human rights activist targeted by Japan's far-right—she starts a counterattack.

SYNOPSIS

It doesn't matter how rough the world is. I have to survive and protect my family.

One hundred years of Zainichi history and the relationship between Korea, North Korea & Japan, from the protagonist SHIN Sook-ok, a third-generation Zainichi human rights activist and a woman entrepreneur, to her mother Keiko and grandmother LEE Baek-ran. SHIN, a well-known businesswoman, jumped into human rights projects in 2000 after Tokyo Mayor Ishihara made far-right comments. She led the Norikoe Net Project to victory, which protested against hate speech and won related legislation. Her activities made her a target of the far-right groups in Japan.

Due to numerous threats to her family, SHIN Sook-ok had to live in exile in Germany. Now, she returns to Japan and begins a counterattack.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

One Sunday morning, when I was studying in Japan in 2000, a TV show on Korean-Japan relations aired.

The far-right commentator provoked everyone by condemning criticism against Korea without hesitation.
However, SHIN Sook-ok, dressed up in red, spoke with a clear voice and left a strong presence by refuting the illogical logic of the far-right commentator one by one.
She was like Wonder Woman, protecting minorities. I, a poor international student living in a foreign country, called for a hurrah for her performance in a small tatami room.

SHIN Sook-ok has cooled down the festering hearts of Koreans in Japan, like a sip of cider.
She seemed like the bravest female activist in Japan. I met her as a film director while shooting Counters (2018), and I thought I'd make a film about her one day. Years later, she became a target for the far-right, and I held the camera for her.

INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start this project?
Humans and society have always been an interesting subject of study for me. Japan's historical relationship with Korea's geopolitical position and the way they gaze at each other are interesting subjects for me to make documentary films about.

While studying abroad in Japan, I saw a panel that nicely refuted the logic of the Japanese far-right commentator. It was a third-generation Zainichi woman named SHIN Sook-ok.

Decades later, I became a documentary film director and made a film about hate speech. I met SHIN again. Her aura of giving an outspoken speech to the Japanese parliament as a leader of the civil movement had become much stronger. Since then, I have wanted to shoot SHIN Sook-ok with a camera.
Is there any emotion you want the audience to feel after watching this film?
Women who have lived through the difficult history of Northeast Asia–I hope to portray a woman’s dedication to protecting her family while she lived through structural discrimination.

I want the audience to see how a person thinks and lives–and ask questions about themselves and our society. How do we, as the Korean majority, look to the minorities? What are they thinking?

As a film, the above elements are open to interpretation. Still, this much is certain: the film will show the diversity through SHIN's refutation of the stereotypical attachment toward the ethnic and national identity of Zainichi.
DIRECTOR
LEE Ilha
After graduating from art college, he moved to japan to pursue a PhD in documentary filmmaking under the director Hara Kazuo. He made his first documentary film, Your March (2003), followed by Latte Index (2006) and Roadmentary (2008). He also directed a feature film Goldfish, and Razor (2010). In South Korea, he directed A Crybaby Boxing Club (2014), Counters (2018), I am More (2021), and Show Me the Justice (2023). With music as his creative motif, human rights as his theme, he has been working on various projects between Korea and Japan.
Counters (2018), I am More (2021)
CONTACTexposedfilm2000@gmail.com
Jeonju Office

(54999) 2F, JEONJU Cine Complex, 22, Jeonjugaeksa 3-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, Republic of Korea

T. +82 (0)63 288 5433 F. +82 (0)63 288 5411

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T. +82 (0)2 2285 0562 F. +82 (0)2 2285 0560

JEONJU Cine Complex

(54999) JEONJU Cine Complex, 22, Jeonjugaeksa 3-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, Republic of Korea

T. +82 (0)63 231 3377