Political thriller 'Land of Happiness' targets fresh take on Korean historical events

"Land of Happiness" centers on the trial of agent Park Tae-ju, portrayed by the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who becomes entangled in the assassination plot through orders from his superior.

From left, actor Yoo Jae-myung, director Choo Chang-min and actor Cho Jung-seok pose for the cameras at a press conference in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Aug. 6 [YONHAP]

The date Oct. 26 has become a prominent theme in Korean cinema due to the assassination of Korea's former president and dictator Park Chung Hee and the subsequent Dec. 12 coup d'état, which have formed the backdrop for blockbuster hits such as "12.12: The Day" (2023) and "The Man Standing Next" (2020). The latest addition to this genre, "Land of Happiness," offers a fresh perspective on these historical events, focusing on the lesser-known individuals affected by the turmoil.

Director Choo Chang-min, at a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul, expressed his intent to highlight the overlooked stories and sacrifices of ordinary people.

"Rather than the big events, I wanted to deliver the stories hidden in between and the people sacrificed," he said. Joining him at the press conference were actors Cho Jung-seok and Yoo Jae-myung.

Many may presume that the director hoped to jump on the bandwagon of creating a successful historical flick, but Choo said he was not influenced by them, especially “12.12: The Day.”

"The film was already fully edited by the time ‘12.12: The Day’ came out," he said.

Director Choo Chang-min answers questions at a press conference in Yongsan District, central Seoul on Aug. 6 [YONHAP]

"Land of Happiness" centers on the trial of agent Park Tae-ju, portrayed by the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who becomes entangled in the assassination plot through orders from his superior. Actor Cho plays Jung In-hu, a lawyer reluctantly defending Tae-ju amid the mounting political pressure.

"The film was not about a singular person, but rather the era as a whole," Choo said, noting his desire to portray the barbarity of the period rather than focus on specific historical figures.

Yoo’s character, Chun Sang-du, is modeled after the real-life character Chun Doo Hwan, Korea's notorious dictator who seized power following Park Chung Hee's assassination. Yoo spoke about the challenge of embodying a man poised to exploit a national crisis for personal gain.

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

"It was about keeping boundaries along with the film and expressing the role properly within those boundaries," Yoo said. He aimed to capture Chun’s anxious ambition without overwhelming the narrative.

Cho, who adopted a contrasting acting approach, praised Yoo’s performance for its ability to evoke genuine anger in their shared scenes.

"Yoo was such a good actor that I just got naturally angry every time we acted in a scene together," he said, describing their on-screen chemistry as "fantastic."

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

Cho said he tried to portray In-hu as a human, rather than as a lawyer. The lawyer is drawn as a cynical figure in the film initially, with one of the film's lines stating that trials are not about justice but about winning.

“I think that was the only thing on this character’s mind,” said Cho, “that he had to save Tae-ju at all costs, by any means necessary.”

In-hu's character in the film becomes more passionate about the case than he initially is. Tae-ju is based on a real historical figure, agent Park Heung-joo, who followed the orders of Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. Kim was the assassin of Park Chung Hee.

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

"The fact that Park Heung-joo was a good soldier was largely the consensus between the left and the right side of politics," said director Choo. The director went on to say that was why Park Heung-joo was chosen as the focal point of the film.

The film has a distinct noir atmosphere in line with its mission of capturing the era, according to Choo. "We couldn't use [analog] film due to technical reasons, but we still tried to give that vibe to portray the year 1979."

The film also marks one of the final works of the late actor Lee. Both Cho and Yoo fondly recalled their experiences working with him.

Still from upcoming film ″Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

"Lee was such a great actor and was passionate," Cho said. "When he was not acting, he was the warmest person. That's how I remember him."

"There is a line in the movie, 'I owe you a lot,’" said Yoo. "I think I can rediscover different sides of Lee through this movie. It is the joy of being an actor. It was tough but a meaningful time."

"Land of Happiness" is Choo's first film in six years, since "Seven Years of Night," which came out in 2018. The director made his debut in 2005 with the comedy film "Mapado: Island of Fortunes," and became a household name in 2012 with the historical fiction film "Masquerade."

“Land of Happiness” is set for release on Aug. 14.