South Korea’s Oscar Entry ‘12.12: The Day’ Director Kim Sung-su on Military Coup Drama

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Director Kim Sung-su‘s historical drama “12.12: The Day,” South Korea‘s entry for the 2024 international feature Oscar race, chronicles a pivotal moment in the country’s history.

The film depicts the military coup of Dec. 12, 1979, which led to an eight-year military junta. The tense action drama features an ensemble cast including Hwang Jung-min (“Deliver Us from Evil”), Jung Woo-sung (“Asura: The City of Madness”), Lee Sung-min (“The Spy Gone North”), Park Hae-joon (“Believer”), Kang Gil-woo (Netflix’s “The Glory”), and Jung Hae-in (Netflix’s “D.P.”).

For Kim, the events depicted in the film left an indelible mark on his teenage years. “That night left a very clear memory. I was getting ready to apply for colleges that winter night when I saw in my own neighborhood an armored military vehicle passing down the street,” Kim tells Variety. “I climbed to the rooftop of my friend’s house and watched the shootout happen for next 30 minutes.

I remember listening to the sound of the gunshots running through the night sky. I could not shake the question of why this was happening in my town, in my neighborhood.” The director explains that most Koreans are aware of the broader historical context but many remain unclear about the specific events of Dec.