Movie depicting Korea’s images soon after foundation discovered in Japan

The movie “Haeyeon” (1948), which showcases images soon after the foundation of the Republic of Korea, had been discovered in Japan and made public for the first time on Tuesday. The movie was made when the late director Lee Gyu-hwan (1904-1982), who was famous for “Owner-less Wooden Boat (1932)” featuring legendary actor Na Un-gyu, was enjoying the zenith in his career. Among Lee’s works, this is the only movie whose actual copy has been found thus far, other than ‘Nam Sa Dang (circus troupe),’ a work that was produced to commemorate his retirement. It is also the movie that veteran actress Cho Mi-ryeong (86) made her debut at age 19.

At a movie preview session at the Korea Film Archive (KOFA) in Sangam-dong, Seoul on the day, the 74 minute-long movie ‘Haeyeon’ was seen to be well-preserved and in good condition as black and white films.

The movie starts with the scene in which Jeong-ae (Nam Mi-rim) who was disappointed at Cheol-soo, a spoiled fiancée, recalls the teacher of children’s correctional house who was teaching unruly children. Jeong-ae’s younger sister, Jeong-sook (Cho Mi-ryeong), visits the correctional house because she found it difficult to live with her stepmother, and become friends with Soo-gil (Choi Byeong-ho), a troublemaker boy. Due to Jeong-ae’s efforts, the two persons are enlightened and corrected. Jang Gwang-heon, a general manager in charge of movie gathering, said, “I discovered the film when I visited the Kobe Film Archives’ in Japan to gather materials in 2014,” adding, “It is believed that the movie was taken to Japan for export in the past.”

The movie also includes vivid images of Seoul, including social mood in which people aspired for economic development and stable livelihoods after Korea’s foundation, and footages of countless young troublemakers on the street. KOFA will make the movie public at Cinema Tech KOFA on July 15 and 19.