N. Korea proposes joint animation project

North Korea has proposed the joint production with South Korea of an animated version of ¡°Simchong-jon,¡± the legendary story of a filial daughter named Simchong of a blind person.

This was revealed at a South Korean delegation from the movie industry, who returned home Sunday after an eight-day visit to North Korea. The delegation was composed of 10, including director Im Kwon-Taek, Kim Dong-Hoe, chairman of the executive committee of the Pusan International Film Festival, actor Moon Sung-Keun and director Kang Woo-Suk.

Actor Moon said that officials of Choson 4.26 Children¡¯s Movie Studio, an animation production company, told the delegation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il had instructed the studio to promote a joint production of animation with South Korea.

The studio officials inquired with the South Korean delegation whether it intends to produce an animation of ¡°Simchong-jon¡± with the North, Moon said.

During their stay in the North, the delegates visited the Choson Arts and Movie Studio, Pyongyang Drama and Movie College, and Choson Film Import Co.

¡°The North said it would positively examine producing an animation depicting the life of (my father) Rev. Moon Ik-Hwan under subcontract,¡± Moon said.

Director Im said that he had heard at a shooting place that all the North Korean staff saw the South Korean film ¡°Festival.¡±

¡°I told North Koreans that it would be difficult to use the nature and buildings of North Korea for history movies because they are standardized,¡± Im said.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Motion Picture Promotion Committee agreed with its North Korean counterpart on the exchange of chief engineers of their studios. The two sides also agreed on respective participation in the Pusan International Film Festival and Pyongyang Film Festival.

Kim Hee-Kyung susanna@donga.com