A far fetched like facts where a beneficial (literally) high-flying Southern area Korean heiress affect paraglides to the Northern Korea, countries on the a good soldier and you can falls crazy about your has end up being the current Korean crisis blockbuster.
Crash-landing you is during various ways a routine K-drama love, however, could have been commonly recognized for the really-researched and nuanced portrayal out-of Northern Korea, anything it achieved by with a bona-fide-lifetime Northern Korean defector to the the composing cluster, since BBC Korean’s Subin Kim explains.
That is most likely once the until 2004, the guy offered brand new Ultimate Guard Command, this new elite cover push and that handles North Korea’s ruling Kim loved ones.
He was very leading he was assigned to performs to another country also, getting a northern Korean trading organization from inside the Moscow which had been bringing from inside the the necessary forex.
Only a small number of North Koreans are allowed working exterior the world, also to make sure their went on respect the brand new leaders have actions during the lay – Kwak needed to get-off their wife and you can kid behind during the Northern Korea.
Within the 2004, he was ordered to return to Pyongyang. While in the an excellent stopover inside the Beijing, the guy discovered one of is own members of the family from inside the Moscow had reported to their employers within the Pyongyang what he had said privately dialogue.
Throughout the our very own dialogue from inside the a restaurant when you look at the Seoul, Kwak remaining glancing around to glance at just who was regional. He message is simple, if you don’t blunt, but Kwak won’t repeat for me what the guy told you. However simply say he’d discussed what he watched when you are escorting people in the Kim family unit members in the past.
Shortly after arriving inside South Korea, Kwak, eg countless North Korean defectors, first started the whole process of strengthening a separate lifestyle. Plus it took a remarkable twist out of fate for Kwak so you’re able to find his way towards roaring world of Korean recreation.
From defector so you’re able to film adviser
Prior to entering the military, Kwak had spent go out discovering movie. Into the newest mid-eighties, the brand new North Korean motion picture industry is roaring, because of up coming frontrunner Kim Jong Il’s well-identified passion for new ways.
At that time, Kwak involved so you’re able to embark on after that knowledge, and then he ended up being approved to analyze film directing for the Pyongyang College away from Dramatic and you will Movie Arts.
Shortly after Kwak arrived in Southern area Korea, a famous filmmaker who was simply taking care of a north Korea-inspired movie investment contacted South Korea’s spy department asking for particular recommendations.
Kwak got simply complete his interrogations 
, a portion of the resettlement techniques the fresh defectors proceed through, where however discussed his film event.
The fresh institution set your in contact with this new filmmaker, which provided your work at the their film business. Kwak approved they straight away.
The guy proceeded be effective since an agent and you will a great screenwriter toward plenty of films and you can dramas, plus in 2018 an old associate lead Kwak to Park Ji-eun, the head composer of the newest crisis.
She got developed a concept of a romantic funny offering a northern Korean administrator and you will a-south Korean heiress, however, this lady diminished intimate experience with North existence are an excellent pressing question.
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Undercover spies and homeless pupils
This new show has-been probably one of the most winning Korean dramas at this moment. It says to the storyline regarding heiress and businesswoman Yoon Se-ri and you can Northern Korean military master Ri Jeong-hyuk.
When you find yourself aside paragliding one day, Se-ri becomes swept up by freak gusts of wind, and you can forced along side border on Northern Korea. She actually is receive because of the hurrying Jeong-hyuk, whom rather than turning this lady inside the agrees to keep the girl secure and help her go homeward. Inevitably, they belong like.
Eg, at the some point, miracle police look for Se-ri concealing when you look at the a community. Jeong-hyuk rapidly comes up on line you to definitely she is an excellent spy which have Division 11, the army product and therefore works undercover on the Southern.
That helps identify the lady South highlight, her shortage of documentation and her looks, and you can gave the type the fresh liberty to understand more about the new community and you can get in touch with anyone else, if you are refusing to respond to their questions relating to this lady existence to the protection foundation.
In the let you know, you will find depictions off lives and this can be produced reliable by way of the fresh understanding of somebody such as for instance Kwak.
Trains get instantly finishing on account of electricity incisions, abandoned students towards roads, and you can fridges used to shop instructions and you will dresses in the place of eating.
Kwak as well as aided manage good subplot throughout the crisis, of another pair of celebrity-crossed couples on Northern and you will Southern, Gu Seung-joon and you can Search engine optimization.
Immediately after embezzling a ton of funds from Se-ri’s sis, Seung-joon continues the brand new manage, and decides to find retreat into the Northern Korea.
Will it be true that Northern Korea also provides safeguards for wished bad guys in return for a substantial amount of money? “It’s in reality possible,” Kwak says. “That’s all I’d like to state.”
Praise off their defectors
Some has implicated Crash landing on you of glamorising North Korea. Such as for instance, villagers appear to have loads of food – in facts restaurants shortages try a continual state.
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Chun Hyo-jin, which defected when she is actually 19, told you the fresh new crisis really does deflect from truth but that will not reduction the woman desire for this. A lot of the lady relatives inhabit the newest Southern area, together with drama has been a regular material.
“It has produced the folks shopping for North Korea. It becomes my friends to inquire about me on the North Korea and you will I am extremely grateful for this.”
“Their depiction of several regions of North Korean society features certainly come very carefully investigated, causing the most around three-dimensional depiction from North Korean neighborhood of any motion picture otherwise drama up until now,” the guy told brand new BBC.
“It’s refreshing the way it illustrates certain aspects of Northern Korean people instead needlessly passageway judgement, and suggests Northern Koreans as cutting-edge people that are sooner relatable and even adorable, in the event he’s culturally various other.”
It’s notorious you to Northern Koreans, particularly the children, are fans away from K-crisis also – and also as Crash landing on you accurately portrays, plenty of Southern Korean videos and you can dramas try smuggled for the North Korea.
“And i reckon that specifically Northern Korean men perform feel very grateful having a handsome child instance Hyun Bin playing one of them,” the guy laughed.
