by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
Northern Limit Line, a film that depicts a 2002 inter-Korean naval skirmish, topped South Korea’s weekly box office this past weekend, dropping Jurassic World to second place.
The 3D maritime action flick set the record as this year’s most-viewed Korean film on its opening weekend, according to the Korean Film Council. The film hit 1 million admissions last Sunday, dominating 40.4 percent of the weekend market share and earning about a total of $9.9 million over five days, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Directed by Kim Hak-soon, Northern Limit Line chronicles the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, which escalated when a North Korean patrol boat crossed the contested Yellow Sea border and engaged a South Korean patrol boat on June 29, 2002. The naval skirmish killed six South Koreans and left 19 injured, whereas the North suffered about 30 casualties.
However, the battle did not receive much media coverage at the time, as South Korea’s national soccer team was playing against Turkey in the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Northern Limit Line memorializes and centers on three fallen South Korean officers: Lieutenant Yoon Young-ha (Kim Mu-yeol), Sergeant Han Sang-gook (Jin Goo) and Corporal Park Dong-hyuk (Lee Hyun-woo).
Director Kim initially did not have the funds to produce Northern Limit Line and turned to crowdfunding campaign to raise money and awareness about the film. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Kim said more than 7,000 individuals contributed to the campaign, which amassed about a third of the film’s $6-million budget.
“Small and large sums donated by people across the country came together to make this movie,” Kim said at a press conference, according to the Korea Herald. “My hope is that viewers will be able to watch it and remember the six soldiers who sacrificed their lives while the rest of the country was celebrating.”
You can watch the trailer for Northern Limit Line below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdx5BPKvFpw
See Also
Eugene Sun Park to Produce Film About Japanese American Internment
Seoul to Financially Support Animated Film on ‘Comfort Women’
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Featured image via HanCinema
