(Korean Movies) May 18, 2007

[Director's side]

Our past history is a history that has opened up hope beyond darkness.
It is our grassroots who have been silently fulfilling their duties that have created that hope.
Through the movie <Glamorous Vacation>, I wanted to say that the freedom and democracy that we breathe were not achieved in an instant by a single hero, but are the result of the hard work of the grassroots.
I wanted to make a movie that smells like people as the main characters, who protected Gwangju even at the cost of their own sacrifice and further protected freedom. I tried to show the sincerity of the genuine people who want to protect their loved ones, their neighbors, and the community.
If this movie is small but helpful, I hope it will serve as an opportunity to harmonize with each other, ask for forgiveness, and open up our hearts.

[Prologue]

The story of them living in Gwangju in May 1980
July 2007 is remembered again as <Glamorous Vacation>.

<Real Person> Kim Bok-man [1952-06-12] _ 28 years old at the time -> Provided the motif of the character 'Kang Min-woo'
It is estimated that Kim Bok-man, who was driving a taxi, was shot and killed in front of the provincial government on May 21 after taking part in a protest.
<Real person> Hong Soon-kwon [1960-01-21] _ 20 years old at the time -> Provided the motif of the character 'Kang Min-woo'
On the 20th, he participated in the demonstration with the members of the Catholic Farmers' Association, and on the 27th, he participated in the final struggle at the provincial government. killed by gunshot.
I will remember you as Kang Min-woo. / Kang Min-woo (27 years old/male)_Kim Sang-kyung
An ordinary taxi driver who lost his parents early and works hard to take care of his younger brother Jin-woo.
An extremely ordinary Gwangju citizen who gives devoted love like his parents to his younger brother Jin-woo, who is ranked first in the school, but is not good at expressing his feelings to his unrequited love partner Shin-ae.
However, with the ruthless suppression of the martial law forces, he confronts the tragedy of history for the sake of his beloved sister and woman.

<Real Person> Jeon Ok-ju
On May 27, 1980, on the day of the last protest of the Gwangju Citizens' Army, the martial law forces started entering the city center with tanks at 3 pm. The main character who made a mournful street broadcast in the city saying, "Martial law is attacking. Citizens, please help us."
May 27, 1980, I will remember your cry. / Park Shin-ae (24 years old/female)_Lee Yo-won
A nurse who lives with Heung-soo, a former military father. Park Shin-ae, who has a warm personality, is as bold as a man and volunteers as a nursing agent during the uprising to cover and caress the pain of many victims. In the whirlwind of history, he makes a shy love with Min-woo.

<Real Person> Hoe-nam Yang [1950-02-16] _ 30 years old at the time -> Reconstructed as 'Kang Jin-woo'
A gunshot was heard outside the wall of the Hwajeong-dong house, and when he looked out, he moaned and went out to rescue the collapsed survivor, but was shot and killed in the stomach. It was temporarily buried at 101 Shooting Range and then moved to Mangwol-dong.
I will remember you for being brave. / Kang Jin-woo (18 years old/male)_Lee Jun-gi
Jinwoo's younger brother, although he grew up without parents, he is a bright, kind and exemplary high school student. Jin-woo, who never disobeys his brother's words, but when a close friend is brutally killed by the martial law forces, he takes the lead in the struggle with the students of the same school.

<Real person> Kim Bok-man [1952-06-12] _ 28 years old at the time -> Reconstructed as a person with 'Inbong'
It is estimated that Kim Bok-man, who was driving a taxi, was shot and killed in front of the provincial government on May 21 after taking part in a protest.
I will remember your joys and sorrows. / Sealing_Park Chul-min
Min-woo's close friend at the taxi company. An atmosphere maker who has a strong bluff, but makes the people around him happy. For his daughter, for his family, he fights bravely as a militia for ten days.

<Real People> Militia [1960-05-18] _ 20 years old at the time -> Reconstructed as a character called 'Yongdae'
While participating in the protests from May 20, he was shot and killed by martial law forces in the basement of the provincial government office at dawn on the morning of the 27th.
I will remember even your last moments. / Yongdae_Park Won-sang
As the prosperous swallow tribe of Gwangju, they joined the militia with the feeling that they had nothing to lose. Showing the perfect compatibility with sealing, he is active as a citizen during the ten-day democratic struggle.

Forgotten in the memory of many,
I will remember you on behalf of so many brave people.
Park Heung-soo (48 years old/male)_ Ahn Sung-ki
A former colonel in reserve, the president of a taxi company. He has a straight personality and acts according to his correct judgment. He is terribly in love with his only daughter, Shin-ae, who has lost his wife. He leads the militia by uniting the citizens in the scene of tragedy for the innocent citizens who are falling due to the excessive suppression of the military.

Please remember.
I had to pick up a gun and a knife to protect the one I love.
Their very ordinary stories.

【 Special Tip 】

<Operation Name: Gorgeous Vacation>
On May 18, around 10 o'clock in front of the main gate of Chonnam National University, where schools were closed due to the nationwide expansion of 5•17 emergency martial law, Chonnam National University students and the martial law forces blocking entry clashed for the first time. Accordingly, when Chonnam National University students started a street demonstration on Geumnam-ro, the operation name [Glamorous Vacation] started at 3 pm.
3rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade, 7th Airborne Special Forces Brigade, 11th Airborne Special Forces Brigade, 20th Division, 31st Division, Infantry School, Artillery School, Armored School, etc. of 47 battalions, including 4727 officers and 15590 enlisted soldiers was mobilized for this operation.
The equipment carried various ammunition according to the "counter-espionage operation" and was actually used with permission to fire from the government.
The number of casualties resulting from this operation was 207 killed, 2,392 injured, and 987 other victims (registration of Gwangju Democrats on January 31, 2003).

[ Hot Issue ]

The story of the day, the people of the day, the emotion of the day
A human masterpiece that will give you a deep resonance!
Now, 27 years after the Gwangju Democratization Movement, <Glamorous Vacation> is a story that has been forgotten by many people, and brings out Gwangju in May 1980, which they probably do not want to remember again. Through the stories of ordinary people who lived through the fierce days of Gwangju, <Glamorous Vacation> tries to remember the heartbreaking history of 27 years ago and each and every person in it. The story of the ordinary citizens of Gwangju, such as taxi drivers, nurses, high school students, teachers, and priests, getting caught up in historical events will give the audience a deep resonance.

<Glamorous Vacation> tells the story of ten intense days of Gwangju's small citizens who would have been someone's father and someone's son or daughter. While watching this movie, it will remind you of the precious people around you, and it will touch the hearts of the audience, even the trivial emotions that the protagonists, who were ordinary citizens, feel.

Gwangju in May 1980, and ordinary people who are very similar to me who lived there, a fierce and fierce struggle to protect the people they love. When all of this is unfolded on a huge screen, one side of our chest is suffocated and we can feel the bridge of our noses twitching.

The first work dealing with 518 head-on,
It portrays historical events in a moving way.
So far, there have been many films dealing with the Gwangju Democratization Movement. In 1994, <Petal> is a movie depicting the aftereffects of the pain of that day, and in <Peppermint Candy> in 1999, 518 appears as the background of the main character's life history. The drama <Hourglass>, which made the entire nation gather in front of the TV at a set time, also takes place in 518 as the background. <Glamorous Vacation> also talks about 518, and unlike previous works, it deals with 518 head-on. With the declaration of emergency martial law at 00:00 on May 18, it is a realistic and moving story of ten days of fighting against the martial law forces to protect Gwangju and loved ones.

A brave woman who broadcast a city street broadcast for citizens fighting armed martial law at the provincial government, a young child who cried while holding her father's body, a student who joined the protesters in anger after saving an unfairly wounded citizen… To tell the heartbreaking story of their disappearance of existence and name in ten days, the scenario was completed with real people as a motif, and each character reflects them. <Glamorous Vacation> conveys the emotion of the day 27 years ago and the people who lived that day as it is on the screen, and the story of each citizen will be re-established in the memory of the Korean people through the movie <Glamorous Vacation> after 27 years. will be.

Director Kim Ji-hoon, who wanted to say that the freedom and democracy we breathe, did not happen in a moment, but was the result of blood and sweat and hard work that went through the process of 518. Furthermore, he completed a film that smells like people, with ordinary people who defended freedom as the main characters.

<Glamorous Vacation>, which listened to the stories of each Gwangju citizen fighting the martial law forces at the provincial government office for ten days from May 18, is now 27 years later, just by retelling the historical event of 518 is our present day. It can be said that it is a meaningful work that makes you look back.

A collection of Korean actors
For the past 5 months, I have lived as an ordinary citizen of Gwangju, not an actor.
<Glamorous Vacation> boasts a splendid cast. Ahn Sung-ki is recognized as a 10 million box-office actor through <Silmido> and as a true actor of this era through <Radio Star>. Actor Kim Sang-kyung, who impresses the audience twice with his comfortable and natural acting, and Lee Yo-won, who is gaining the highest share in <Surgeon Bong Dal-hee>, finally appeared like a comet in <The King's Man>, showing a young but ambitious performance. Until Lee Joon-gi is giving. Just hearing the names of these four actors makes this film feel sincere.

Not only that, but Na Moon-hee plays even the wrinkles of the face, Park Chul-min and Park Won-sang do 200% of the role as licorice in any role. From <The Beast> to the terrible devil in the drama <White Tower>, to Son Byung-ho, who plays various roles as an ordinary lawyer, <Glamorous Vacation> reproduces May 18, 1980 with the best casting.

These great actors, who all say that becoming a living Gwangju citizen at the time is not acting but a part of life, forgetting their names for the past 5 months while filming, and remembering themselves as ordinary citizens living in Gwangju in 1980 did.

[ Production Note ]

Ready
May 1980, completed Gwangju
Succeeded in perfect reproduction through thorough research and endless efforts
Making a movie based on a historical event is not only important how true the story is, but if it is a fact that everyone knows, how perfectly the day is portrayed is the key. This is because it must perfectly reflect the image of the era to be reproduced down to the smallest detail. As the background of the 518 Democratization Movement that cannot be dealt with lightly, depth and density were the factors that all the staff focused on the most.

Accordingly, the production team of <Glamorous Vacation> produced a realistic set in 1980 through thorough research based on a vast amount of data, including reading both domestic and foreign media reports and related documentaries broadcast during that time. He also completed the day by directly confronting the survivors who had been through it at the time and putting together pieces from 1980 one by one. It was by no means easy to complete today 27 years ago. However, through years of research and unremitting efforts, he created the ten days of May 1980, and completed the story of an ordinary militia who struggled with force only for himself and his family in a sudden event with a touching heart.

Filming period of 5 months & production cost of 10 billion won
Set_Gwangju's Geumnam-ro is reborn in 1980
<Glamorous Vacation>, which began filming in July 2006, perfectly captured the ten days of May 1980 during the filming period of five months. The Geumnam-ro set, built on a site of 17,000 pyeong in the high-tech science industrial complex in Buk-gu, Gwangju, invested 3 billion won to create the perfect Geumnam-ro, where the cries of the citizens can be heard vividly 27 years ago. The appearance of the provincial government office is as it was that day in 1980, and the buildings, roads, and signs centered on the provincial government office were completed after thorough examination. The provincial government building is 100% life-size, and the rest of the buildings are built just like the real thing at 85% of the size. Many Gwangju citizens who remember that day saw Geumnam-ro recreated by <Glamorous Vacation> and reminisced about that day and fell into memories.

The completed Geumnam-ro set contributed greatly to capturing spectacular scenes in the movie, such as the shooting scene of martial law forces and protesters, and the demonstration scene with large-scale extras. is showing

Costumes, props_The rest of the devices that complete Gwangju in 1980
With a total production cost of 10 billion won, <Glamorous Vacation> covers the 1980s from one to ten, not only on Geumnam-ro, but also on Gwangju city buses, pony taxis, and armored vehicles and military jeeps used to suppress armed forces. Pony cars were difficult to find in Korea, so they were airlifted through reimportation of three cars from Egypt, and the shooting scenes and protesters on the streets of Geumnam-ro are vividly and fiercely drawn as if watching breaking news at the time.

Also, the costumes of all the characters appearing have been airlifted from China to represent 1980. Currently, China's rural costumes have a design and style that is almost similar to that of Korea in the 80's. As a result, more than 10,000 costumes were obtained from China, and all the characters in the movie wore these costumes for filming. The three beats of the set, props, and costumes are in perfect harmony, vividly reproducing the day of Gwangju in 1980.

Action
Large-scale protest scene of 1,600 people_Successful re-enactment with everyone's harmony
The scene where you can see the biggest scale of <Glamorous Vacation> is the protest scene in front of the provincial government office. Citizens who stand up to force for the innocent victims of their families, friends and loved ones join the protests against martial law forces. In one of the most important scenes, the protest scene, a huge number of extras of about 1,600 were mobilized. All of them wore 80's costumes airlifted from China and moved around in a jiffy while filming. All of them united in one heart and paid attention to each cut, and the staff, actors, and extras all came together to complete the most difficult but greatest scene, such as direct acting guidance to the extras who were exhausted from long filming.

Actors' passionate performances _ More solid and seasoned <Glamorous Vacation>
<Glamorous Vacation>, based on 518, has many scenes that are as good as any other action movie. The amount of ammunition and explosives used was large, and the shooting scene using tanks and armored vehicles is also a masterpiece. The actors also showed a professional spirit that does not spare themselves even when shooting dangerous scenes, and did their best to convey the vividness of the day. Through the actors who do not spare themselves in the dangerous shooting and physical fight scenes and perform daring performances, <Glamorous Vacation> has become more solid and seasoned.

In addition, the actors of <Glamorous Vacation> became citizens of Gwangju at that time in 1980 and were faithful to their emotional immersion. Kim Sang-kyung, who plays 'Kang Min-woo', lived the life of 'Kang Min-woo' for 5 months by always guarding the filming site even on days when there was no filming. played perfectly. Not only that, but at that time, regardless of age or gender, for the scene where they were beaten by the martial law forces, they performed their roles such as having their hair caught by the martial law forces.

Based on a true story and based on a real person, <Glamorous Vacation>
The reason that one part of my heart is engulfed while watching <Glamorous Vacation> is probably because it contains the actual experiences of the people who existed at the time. Many scenes and characters in <Glamorous Vacation> were completed based on real people and real events in Gwangju in May 1980. Thus, <Glamorous Vacation> was able to be born as a more realistic and moving film.

*Please remember this person.

A Gwangju citizen who posted a flag above the provincial government
Min-woo, who joined the militia, becomes a militia and retakes the provincial government from the martial law army. I have already seen the blood of many people, and precious people around me have lost their lives. Min-woo raises the Taegeukgi early above the provincial government building, mourning the people who lost their lives, and vowing to protect those they love. This scene was created based on the person who actually raised the flag above the provincial government during the Gwangju Democratization Movement, and it will give a touching impression in <Glamorous Vacation>.

Two women who made a mournful street broadcast asking for help
On May 27, 1980, at 3 pm on the day of the last protest of the Gwangju Citizens' Army, martial law forces with tanks began to enter the city. "Citizens! The martial law forces are attacking downtown Gwangju. Our beloved brothers and sisters are being killed by the martial law forces. Let's all fight the martial law forces to the end. We will defend Gwangju. Don't forget us. Please. We will fight to the end. Citizens…" The two women who broadcast a mournful city street broadcast were born as 'Park Shin-ae' played by Lee Yo-won in <Glamorous Vacation>.

The little boy who shed tears in front of his father's corpse
If you look at the trailer for <Glamorous Vacation>, the image of a young child chanting 'Father' in front of his father's body will not be erased for a long time. This child was born based on the image of a boy holding a portrait of a portrait in front of his father's coffin at the time of 518 and weeping hot. At that time, the picture of this child holding a portrait of a young man was known through a foreign reporter's report, and it is famous that many people suffered heartbreak.

* The truth of the day

The truth of the national anthem sung in front of the city hall
There are some shocking scenes in <Glamorous Vacation> that the audience will not believe. One of them is the image of the martial law forces putting their hands on their chests while the national anthem is being played and mercilessly shooting at citizens chanting the national anthem. However, when the martial law army's guns were actually fired, the national anthem was playing in front of the Gwangju Provincial Office, and those who remember that day still speculate that the national anthem must have been a signal implying an order to fire for the martial law forces. However, the truth of all the days related to the firing has not yet been revealed.

Junam Village Bus Massacre
A bus carrying Gwangju citizens runs through the rice fields. Citizens on the bus are trembling in fear and looking everywhere. Momentarily, a military truck seen on the other side. As soon as the fear turns into reality, the inside of the bus becomes a haunting situation, and the soldiers who find the bus get off the truck and shoot at the bus without mercy. This horrific scene is a scene from <Glamorous Vacation>, but it is a reproduction of the minibus shooting in Junam Village, which is known as a representative massacre of civilians. On May 23, 1980, a small bus carrying 18 Gwangju citizens was fired indiscriminately in front of Junam Village in Jiwon-dong, Gwangju, and 17 out of 18 bus passengers were killed.

people trampled on and trampled on
Many scenes in <Glamorous Vacation> were made based on true stories. There are also plenty of scenes that were directed while looking at the photos at that time for realistic delivery. Most of the scenes that many audiences watch saying, 'I can't…' would be like that. The martial law forces indiscriminately impose prices on all citizens of Gwangju. Citizens of all ages are beaten and taken naked on the streets in broad daylight. The tank, which should be used for national security, enters the city of Gwangju and rushes towards the innocent citizens.

[ Epilogue ]

“We saw. I watched with my own two eyes that people were being dragged away like dogs to death. But not a single line was written in the newspaper. We are ashamed and put down our brushes.
–'Joint Resignation Letter from Journalists of the Jeonnam Maeil Newspaper' (May 20, 1981)

“It is said that the person who fell down bleeding red blood was kicked and beaten with boots. Both boys and girls were stripped of their clothes, beaten, kicked, and stabbed with bayonets. Oh, is this the Korean Armed Forces? Who drove them crazy? Who was the culprit who ordered the people to be killed?”
– Part of the testimony of Father Kim Seong-yong in 'Blue-Eyes Witness' (Sunday Special Documentary)

I still don't know why my family had to be shot. It wasn't even a protest, but I want you to know why they shot us and dug up the family.
– Testimony of Kim Rae-hyang, the youngest injured on May 18

“The people will never forget, and the Gwangju Struggle is not over. People's dissatisfaction will not be suppressed with guns, and Chun Doo-hwan's conspiracy to retreat to 20 years ago will fail."
– 'Newsweek' (June 13, 1981)

The Gwangju Struggle was not looting and riots, but citizens moved in the cause of realizing democracy.
– 'AFP' (1980.06.03)

May 18, 1980,
There are many people who remember the unbelievable 'event' that happened that spring.
But that day, without knowing the English or the reason
There are not many people who remember the 'people' who lost their lives.
For loving family, lovers and friends
They had to pick up guns
They were ordinary citizens just like us.
It was only in Gwangju where they lived.

The movie "Glamorous Vacation"
It's about 'people', not 'events'.
I try to remember their fierce ten days.