This film is based on the life and factual records of Lee Tae,
a correspondent who took an active part in the Korean war as a partisan.
Korea was liberated on 15 August 1945
Soviet Army occupied North Korea on 20 August 1945
U.S. Army occupied South Korea on 9 September 1945
Democratic National Front formed on 15 February 1946
Riot in Taegu on 2 October: South Korean Labor Party formed on 23 November 1946
The U.S. -Soviet joint meeting was ruptured on May, July 1947
Yeo Un-hyong, head of the Working People's Party, assassinated on 19 July 1947
Jeju incident on 3 April 1948
North-South joint meeting of political parties and public organization held in Pyongyang on 19 April 1948
South Korean independence election on 10 May 1948
Revolt in Yosu, Sunchon on 20 October 1948
Kim Gu, head of Korean Independence Party, assassinated on 25 June 1949
The Korean war broke out on 25 June 1950
Prerogative of supreme command of South Korean Army transferred to U.S. Army on 12 July 1950
Naktong river battle on 2 September 1950
U.S. Army landed in Inchon on 15 September 1950
Produced and directed by Jeong Ji-young
The Korean war broke out amid a whirlpool of rightist-leftist conflicts which resulted from a hegemonic struggle
between the U.S. And Soviet Union after Korea's liberation.
I was a HAPTONG News Agency correspondent during this period.
Since the People's Army advanced to Seoul and took over HAPTONG,
I became a war correspondent for the Korean Central News Agency and went down to Cheonju.
Cheonju City in September 1950
Communications are severed and everything is in chaos!
Hasn't the U.S. Army landed?
Don't worry! How can the Yankees exert their strength
even if they do land on our soil, wasting all their energy in pleasure resorts
in Okinawa or Kakinawa.
Don't you think so, boss?
Let's pack up! U.S. Troops have landed in Osik Island.
What?
You mean they can be here within 2 hours by tank?
Yes, Hurry up!
We'll really be in trouble!
Everyone is going to the North. Where shall we go?
Well, we should follow the orders of the provincial party committee.
What?
We are instructed to join the provincial party at Mt. Yobun guerilla headquarters.
Really?
Hey, you guys the must be comrades of news agency coming to join provincial party in Mt. Yobun.
That's right. You are...
Glad to meet you!
I'm Oegari notorious in Mt. Yobun. Let's go!
We only knew about partisans from past rumors.
Our members went to Mt. Yobun a partisans' hiding-place guided by Comrade Oegari.
Guerrillas were very active in this area even before the war and there we met man young men from various strata.
It was the first time for me to see this new world Guerrilla headquarters, Korean Labor Party's provincial committee in Mt. Yobun, Sunchang county
with mixed feelings of fear and curiosity. Guerrilla headquarters, Korean Labor Party's provincial committee in Mt. Yobun, Sunchang county
Comrade reporter, come this way
Good bye, Comrade Sung.
Good bye.
You follow me.
I was reporter, not a technician,
so I was assigned to a combat unit, separated from my colleagues.
Take care of yourself!
You now belong to 4th Company.
We will organize our platoons.
Comrade Sung, since you have some experience you should head the reconnaissance unit.
All right.
You, what extra work did you do in school?
I waged the struggle against National College system of the U.S. Military rule
and against the Syngman Rheeclique's separate election maneuvers in South Korea.
Do you any military experience?
A little in the Japanese army... like basic rifle firing.
You mean, you participated in the war against our nation's liberation.
Well anyway, you should take advantage of your military experience.
So, I appoint you as the 2nd platoon leader.
You are a petit-intellectual.
I hope you will reform your mentality through the partisan struggle.
Yes.
Humm... you left Yonhui college in mid-course.
This company is going to be the intellectuals unit.
You go to the 2nd platoon.
Yes.
They said partisans should be courageous.
Aren't you scared?
Our struggle will continue in everywhere and anywhere the nation is liberated.
Let's get some sleep.
You mean... everywhere?
Who are you? I didn't say anything.
Put your shoes on!
Hurry up!
You'd better be careful from now on.
You weren't paying attention during the training.
Didn't you hear that partisans must keep their shoes
on 24 hours a day... whether they are wet or dry?
What's the matter with you?
...My spoon.
What? You lost your party member's certificate?
Oh... Here it is!
Yah, who is that Comrade woman?
She is the girl I came with from my hometown.
Well, you shouldn't recklessly give your party certificate to other person.
Didn't you hear during training that only when we find short spoon on a dead body
that we know he is our comrade and cover the body even with fallen leaves.
After some simple basic training, we embarked on the first mobilization march.
Comrades, we have not touched any food all day.
We should eat something in that village...
but as you know, that village is not a 'democratic' one.
In other words, rascals may appear at any time from anywhere.
So, you must start as soon as you get there and finish eating in less than 5 minutes,
The first platoon should block all roads to outside.
The rest can slip into any house and eat whatever's being served...
and as soon as you finish eating,
you should bring back some leftovers
for the other comrades in the 1st platoon.
I'm sorry, auntie.
Thank you, auntie, for the delicious food.
Comrade Mah, this is the share for the 1st platoon.
Our operation is likely to be waged on a large scale don't you think?
Yah... we'll carry out a powerful struggle to obtain provisions for the winter before it gets cold.
All the troops under the provincial party command will be deployed all over Mt. Hoemun and make a surprise attack.
Damn, We've been spotted!
Comrades! Go to that direction!
You, women, hide Yourself in the rear!
Hurry up! Things are getting twisted.
You fellows move back! Carry on with the covering fire!
Comrade Jeon, you must run! Otherwise you will be killed!
Platoon leader! I left my rifle behind.
My rifle's jammed!
This rifle's out of order.
You all run to dead angle across the hill!
Comrade Kim, take care of Jeon!
2nd platoon, don't retreat!
You fellows must really be taking a beating. It's ok to take this road.
Machine gun unit, this way!
Did you get hurt?
Are you alright?
Give me towel, please.
What? Comrade Jeon deserted giving up his rifle.
He should be disciplined!
- What was your situation? - Situation?
Does any one abandon his rifle under a comfortable conditions?
But the life of man is more valuable than a piece of rifle.
You'd better discard the nepotist sentimentalism! I just don't agree...
How can you lead the people's liberation struggle to victory with such a weak ideological armament?
Well, well, We made great gains in today's battle.
Let's stop arguing perplexing matters.
I agree with the platoon leader. We've captured a lot of weapons
but we also need men to handle them.
Look! Comrade company commander there...
We were returning after burying company commander Choe on the mountain in front of the village.
We receive an order from Headquarters to reorganize our unit.
Headquarters was moving to Mt. Hoemun
and our 4th company was reorganized into "Eagle Brigade".
Maeng Bong, who rescued us, took the command of our brigade,
and we made a foothold at Mt. Baekryon.
Cho Young-ja, Bae Bong-suk!
Lee Eun -ha, Jeong Un-ok, Kang Sung-hee.
You've been transferred to the Headquarters. You'd better 90 quick!
Chief...
What is it?
...how about Comrade Cho Young-ja...
Anything wrong with her?
...No
Am I allowed to see you?
Oh, Comrade Pak.
Are you sick?
Oh, no.
I'm happy to be here.
I'm also assigned to this "Eagle Brigade".
Oh, that's good. Then, I don't mind your using my own private wash place.
Thank you.
The piercing bullet wound is worse!
How could you leave a wound like this...
Yah, it certainly swelled up badly.
Hold it firmly!
How do you feel? Does it still hurt you?
Aha... the night in Shilla, I heard the sound of the bell in Bulguk Temple...
You!
Go on singing! I feel like the pain is better.
Comrade Pak! It's just a minor thing...
Please help me!
- Hurry up! - I'm dog tired! Wolchi Village in Sunchang County, November 1950.
Comrade Shin!
They raided when all left for Chonggung.
Fire!
Escape! Let's go to the stone wall down there!
2nd squad! Go close to the well!
Comrade Jeon! You can't see anything for the smoke.
Just keep running to that mountain corner!
When you get there, throw a hand grenade!
When the grenade explodes, we'll run
Run!
Chief...
You mean, we burn the whole village?
That's right. We are ordered to do so because that village serves as a, supply pain, for the rascals.
As a supply point for the rascals.
Chief...
Why doesn't the hand grenade explode?
Comrade Lee, listen!
We can't run with you.
We're in between the stone walls, so we won't burn to death!
You should make the best choice by yourself after we run.
Comrade Min-ja!
Follow me!
Hurry up!
They said we'll just withdraw.
You mean, we aren't going to burn this village?
I'm not sure... we may burn it while withdrawing.
- Hey, look! There's another house. - Yah, You're right.
We've entered enemy's lines. We have to get out here.
Corporal Kim!
Auntie!
Yes?
Haven't you seen two soldiers around here?
...They went in that direction a few minutes ago.
They are gone
- You haven't had dinner, I guess. - No.
Auntie...
Yes? What can I do for you?
I picked this up over there.
What's that?
It's a spoon carried by red guerrillas.
Yah, red, red guerrillas?
Who are you?
Thank you, indeed, auntie.
You can report after a while and tell them we ran away to Galje.
Come!
You think we came for a picnic?
The sound of your reed may invite the enemy.
I'm playing this in the hope to see friendly forces.
I feel refreshed after a good sleep.
Why, you...
You ran desperately up to here. Then you collapsed.
You didn't fall asleep you fainted.
Really?
So, I could give you first aid without you screaming.
My hometown is a flowery mountain village...
Who taught you to play the reed?
My brother.
We lost our parents when we were children.
After finishing school, we worked in the Taejon provincial hospital for a while
I followed my brother,
and worked as an office girl at a construction site
at Unam Dam before the war.
When the war broke out, my brother was drafted into the army.
Later, I heard he was killed in battle.
I returned to Taejon again
but the hospital had turned into a field army hospital of the People's Army.
So, I became a nurse.
I was then mobilized to the frontline. But I came to the mountains with straggling soldiers
when the People's Army was retreating from Naktong river.
You mean, you were on the side that killed your brother? I can hardly under, stand...
You're right. But I don't understand why people are standing apart in sharp confrontation with each other.
You see, people who suffer wounds and pains from any side need me.
It's getting cold.
You should keep your body warm so that your wound will heal quicker.
Please hold me in your arms!
Get up!
I'm the platoon leader of the "Eagle Brigade".
She is a nurse.
- Is that true? - Yes!
We're from "Thunder Brigade". Let's go!
They say the "Eagle Brigade" is in Mulguri to defend Yakdam Hill,
and you, Comrade nurse are reassigned to the rear hospital in Hwiyotteo.
You should leave at once.
The number of wounded soldiers in increasing. You are needed in many places.
Can you go to Hwiyotteo by yourself?
Yes.
Well, then you should go now. Hurry up!
Who will take care of you if your wound gets worse?
Comrade Heo In-sun will do it, I'm sure
Don't ask her to embrace you to keep you warm...
Will she if I ask?
Well...
Who is this?
Oh, Seyong.
Chief!
Very Hot
If the war ends,
you'll be working someplace in Seoul as a journalist.
What will I be doing then?
Well, you'll be waiting at the dinner table, after preparing food.
Can we meet again, really?
If we don't die...
Even if we don't meet again, please be a good journalist.
What sound I give you?
Let's see... what do I have to give you?
You may write something with that fountain pen words that I can keep in my mind.
You and I do not share the same destiny.
I shall repress my surging passion
but may peace take reside in your heart.
Sending off Min-ja at Sumjin riverside
on a snowy day. Tae
I don't like the phrase
we do not share the same destiny...
That's a phrase from Byron's poem.
Be careful! Watch in all directions!
Look out!
I was so frightened that I couldn't take the pin out of my hand grenade.
The image of my mother, left alone at home, flashed before me...
So I froze.
- You said your father passed away last year... - Yeh...
He was taken to a police box, charged with something,
and beaten all night long. He returned home but died of a lingering illness,
without being given any medicine.
Chief!
Yeh?
We'll certainly see a happy world after undergoing various pains we are suffering... Won't we?
Sure, we will.
Chief! Will you take me to Seoul when the war ends?
Why to Seoul?
I want to attend a good school, like you
Alright, I certainly will.
Trench mortar... you are my class comrade.
I feel a stir in my heart whenever I see you...
Machine gun! You are always my headache...
whenever I see you.
Comrade Mah, you have no headache
as you always run away from battlefield...
What? What did you say... when did I...
Reflect on your conduct!
I said I have a headache because I was enraged
whenever I must pour liquor into a machine gun
as a substitute for antifreeze solution.
Kah... You want a drink?
Toe toe... Some guy put his dirty mouth in the gourd.
The colder it is, the more cautious we should be.
Didn't you know that liquor means poison to partisans?
It's so cold... I can hardly be patient about this...
It's now the time for mobilization!
Intelligence reports say that the enemy is coming into Galdam.
2nd platoon! Take charge of Sagusil!
We'll lead 1st platoon and take charge of the Kagok area.
Keep away! Yellow dogs are coming!
Comrade Sung! Come over here! We'll cover you!
My puppy...
Stop firing!
Hey kid Come here
It's dangerous
Hey Kid
Kid come this way. Come here to soldier uncles
Kid! Come here
Kid! They are Reds! We'll give you candy if you come here.
Kid! Come here! They are yellow dogs!
My boy!
My boy! Why are you standing there? Come! Come here!
Yellow dogs! You seem to be more humanitarian than we thought...
You, wild pigs! You seem to be a bit kind.
Don't you want to go home?
You should go back to your home and support your wives and kids!
You stopped firing for the child
and puppy not because we all descended from the same forefathers.
You, wild pigs! Listen! Don't you know that wild pigs
and yellow dogs are all offspring of Father Dangun?
You, rascals! You pretend you know something.
Don't you guys agree that national reunification and the people's liberation
must be expedited!
Raise your hands and come forward! We'll ensure your life!
Stop such silly talk! You just listen to your brother singing a song.
How many guys do you think there are?
Well, shall we sing a song, too?
Twice as many as we are...
Since we are spread out, they would think we are more.
Really?
Hey, you yellow dogs! We know only 30
of you are running wild in out village, you sons of bitches!
You, wild pigs! How many men are there
to make a show of power?
The rascals have disappeared!
Comrade Kim!
What is the use of book in combat? Put it back!
Who is this? Code! "Sumjin river!"
Mountain Parektu!
The situation in Kagok is unfavorable.
1st squad should keep this area and 2nd squad and reconnaissance unit follow me.
- Let's go to "Kagok!" - Yes.
- Let's go! - 1st squad!
Comrade Jeon! You stay here and if anything happens,
send a message to us in Kagok.
Alright.
Seems that the rascals have retreated.
How about we go to the 1st squad?
Wait! It's just a momentary lull.
Yes.
Are you composing a poem?
Oh, no.
Is it a sin that men are afraid of death?
I knew that you were always courageous in combat...
I thought of many things after rebuking Comrade Mah as a coward
in front of all platoon members.
I thought that fearing death is quite natural and humanistic for a man.
That's a way of thinking for a poet.
Such humanistic fear is considered a sin
because we are in a state of war.