History & Reunification

                                           History & Reunification                     Yu-Han (Frank) Chang

In 1998 Kim Dae Jung became the 8^th president in the South Korean history. Kim Dae Jung was most well known for his “Sunshine Policy”, for which he was the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. Kim’s administration placed emphasis on cooperation rather than active absorption on the North-South Korean and reunification issues. Kim’s office reintroduced contact between the two states. Politics and economics were separated with more emphasis on the economic cooperation.  Investment laws were loosened. Tourism was opened for South Koreans to visit Mount Kumgang. Few families were reunited. The trans-Korea railroad was also initiated and finished in 2003. Kaesong Industrial Park was also established where both North and South Koreans were employed as an economic collaboration effort. Some sports events also took place. For instance, the 2000 and 2004 Olympics the two States marched together in the open ceremony. Most importantly, the very first ground breaking Inter-Korea Summit took place in Pyongyang in 2000 where the South Korean president was invited to visit the North for the first time in the history.

With the historical events in mind, Shiri is a film from the year of 1999 which coincided with the early period of Kim’s administration. The North-South Korean issue had been touched on by films before Shiri. But Shiri was the first major release, especially being the very first Korean blockbuster, since the 1998 election and introduction of the Sunshine policy. Reunification was a major theme in the film. Prior to Kim’s administration, reunification was primarily, if not solely, associated with military pressure and possibly war. This film reflected some elements of a more peaceful interaction outlined by the Sunshine policy which were previously not available or imaginable by the people and directors in all the films before. For instance, the soccer game was an evident reflection of the time and official policy in 1999. Nonetheless, the idea of reunification remained controversial throughout the1990s and 2000s. In fact, it is still controversial in present time. One question after viewing the film was to address whether the film was optimistic or pessimistic towards the Sunshine policy and idea of reunification.

Personally, I think the film was real smart in the sense that it combined not just the Hollywood style action movie elements but also incorporated the controversial and hot topic at the time- Inter-Korea relationship. What was even smarter was that the film touched on the issue but gave a rather mixed, ambiguous stance. Optimistic viewers could argue that the soccer game proceeded and the entire event despite the twists and obstacles succeeded. This could be reflective of the difficult path in reunification but success is possible. Alternatively, pessimistic viewers could argue that relationship between Ryu and Hee/Hyun despite their love and passion for each other failed. The couple were representative of the North and South Korean relationship. Could this translate into that no matter how much love, it simply wouldn’t work out? More importantly, the unborn child symbolic of an unification was killed tragically. Was this the fate the film saw? By providing a mixed answer, the film had the potential be accepted by both groups of viewers.

The next question to be addressed is then was the film antagonizing or sympathetic towards North Korea in the pretext of reunification. In the real life at the time, there had been critics toward the Sunshine Policy as well. There were issues in that North Korea never intended to hold up their end in this partnership cooperation. In other words, the “reciprocity” was more of a one-sided giving by the South Korea. One could argue that the film was antagonizing North Korea and the policy towards reunification by casting the North Koreans as the villain attacking South Korea. Superficially they appeared to be in agreement with the people in the South but in the hind side they still wanted to take over through military and armed forces. Could this be a reflection of the general critics and suspicion in the North Korean’s commitment to the cause?

Alternatively, the film was named “Shiri”, the aboriginal fish found in both North and South Korea. The fish was a reflection of the common ancestry and the idea that we are the “same kind” such that one day the water will flow freely again and the fish would swim freely between again. Kissing gourami represented the couple and the couple represented the reunion of the North and South. It was mentioned that the kissing gourami occasionally fight each other like a couple bickering but otherwise are peaceful. More importantly, they need each other. Furthermore, Ryu at the questioning at the end after he had shot Hee/Hyun mentioned that Hee/Hyun was like a hydra with multiple personalities. He bear no resentment nor hatred but sympathy that she was a product of the separation. Could this be the ultimate opinion of the film instead?