On My Way To Korea

“Dear Soldier” (병정님) is the first movie I’ve seen from Korea which was made while they were under Japan’s rule giving an interesting insight into how the Japanese expected the Koreans to live and speak (as in live and speak like they were in Japan).  The whole movie is spoken in Japanese, showing just how real the situation was.  I’ve always heard that during the occupation, Japanese was taught instead of Korean, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in action.

Here’s the editorial by YesAsia.com:

Following the release of the first two installments of the critically acclaimed The Past Unearthed series, the Korean Film Archive unveils its third collection, The Past Unearthed The 3rd: Dear Soldier. A pro-militarism film with strong propaganda undertones, Dear Soldier sees young Korean men being drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army during the latter stages of World War II, as their proud parents bask in the glory of their sons. Discovered through the Chinese Film Archive, the film was directed by one of the colonial period’s most well-known filmmakers Bang Han Joon (Hangang, Seonghwangdang). Designed by the Japanese Imperial Army as part of a massive national campaign to downplay their forced conscription system in Korea, the film, which was produced in a semi-documentary style by the news division of the Japan Joseon Army, encourages thousands of nervous Korean mothers to willingly embrace the Imperial ordinance by providing a mind-easing look at the daily rituals of life in the military training camps.

Hiramas Jenki (Nam Seong Min) and Yasmoto Aichi (Dok Eun Ki) are both facing the draft. Though extremely proud that their sons have been called by the Imperial Japanese Empire, their mothers grow increasingly worried about the boys’ well-being. But rest assured, life in the training camp turns out to be anything but unpleasant. Though they undergo a rigorous training regiment everyday, each soldier is treated with utmost respect, nutritious food, and top-notch living conditions. They are even allowed to go home every holiday. Hiramas and Yasmoto excel in their performance and soon, to their mothers’ delight, advance in ranks. When Hiramas is assigned his first field mission, Yasmoto, who is excluded from the mission, feels wronged but soon realizes that his role at the home-front is just as rewarding and glorious as that of his friend’s.

Here’s an interesting scene from the movie when the sons come home for a holiday:

Mother: “We are happy to have you but can’t offer you a lot to eat. Why don’t you try this at least?”

Son: “Mother, it’s okay. We get all the cookies we want in the army. Sweet jelly beans and cookies.”

Mother: “I can’t remember the last time I had sweet jelly beans.”

Son: “Rice cakes and bean pastry are this big.

Sister: “I envy you.”

Son: “I’m not finished with my story. They gave us this much bean porridge.”

Sister: “Would you stop? You’re making me hungry.”

*all laugh*

There’s also a scene where a son comes home after hearing his father was sick.  After he gets there, his father tells him that he wished he hadn’t come home and that he would be embarrassed if the villagers find out.  The son then tells his father he isn’t there to see him, after which he gathers the villagers and tells them to be proud to join the army and tells the parents to send their kids.

There’s also an interesting segment that showcases some Japanese singing and dancing to entertain the soldiers.  At the end the conductor turns to everyone and everyone starts singing, I wonder what they are singing?  Maybe a national or army song?

I wouldn’t exactly call it very interesting as a regular movie, but if you’re interested in seeing Japanese military propaganda and how it targeted Korea in 1944 then check this movie out. It’s really a rare view into occupied Korea as portrayed by Japan.