Production of Gwangju Democratization Movement film trying again

[한겨레] New fund raising campaign kicking off to bring together enough money to produce 26 Years

By Park Hyun-jung, staff writer　

26 Years, a film based depicting the Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980, was scheduled to be filmed four years ago, until financial problems threw the project off course. Now a grassroots movement in support of the film is again raising the possibility that it will be seen.

26 Years garnered attention in 2006 when telling a story of the attempted murder of a former president who administered martial law when it was declared during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980. The cartoon was originally posted on Daum, a popular online portal site. The descendants of victims and a man involved in the enforcement of martial law tries to murder the former president 26 years later. They felt the former president didn't receive sufficient legal punishment.

Chongoeram, a film production company best known for 2006's largest grossing film Monster, is hoping to raise one billion won (US$879,000) over 26 days to produce the movie. It plans raise the money through social funding sites, such as Goodfunding.net and popfunding.com. Socialants.org, operated by a non-profit foundation 'Beautiful Foundation' was closed after the goal of 10 million won was fulfilled in one day, March 26. Cheongeoram plan to collect 1 billion won through the social fund raising and later rest 4 billion won from the investment.

"Although it is a commercial movie, its message has public value," stated an official from The Beautiful Foundation. "We are also discussing with the producing company possible places to donate the film's profits if it is eventually released," he added.

In 2008, Chongeoram suffered a painful setback. The company had stated that it would produce 26 Years within two years, but investors suspiciously pulled out ten days before filming was scheduled to begin. "Signing fees had already been given to actors Kim A-jung and Ryu Seung-beom among others," stated an official from the film industry familiar with the situation.

"It is my understanding that production became difficult after the main investor changed their mind about investing more than two billion won ($1.8 million), a pledge they made during the last investment screening committee meeting", he explained.

When the latest production delay was announced, petition campaigns started in an effort to produce the film as scheduled.

In an online posting, Gangpool the cartoonist stated, "My wish is that more people would remember May of 1980." He added, "There were many setbacks in the production of the film 26 Years. Making the cartoon into a movie have become a long cherished wish."

"26 Years draws on a social atmosphere where acts of personal revenge are carried out after public punishment has failed," said Han Hong-gu, professor at Sungkonghoe University School of Liberal Studies.

"This cartoon asks the question of what society will say to those to whom it has failed to bring justice," he added.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

<한겨레 인기기사>■ "삼성 앞에서 주물럭 먹었다고 벌금 50만원"■ 윤도현 소속사 대표 "이 정권선 밥줄이 끊기더라"■ 5천만원 출처 추적할 단서 나왔다■ 박정희와의 결혼 막은 '쪽집게 예언' 스님■ 5분만에 '미끄덩' 알고보니 순풍녀

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