Northern Limit Line (film)

Northern Limit Line (Korean: 연평해전; lit. Battle of Yeonpyeong) is a 2015 South Korean naval thriller film written and directed by Kim Hak-soon, based on the real-life events of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.[2][3][4][5][6] It stars Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Goo, and Lee Hyun-woo.[7][8][9][10]

Northern Limit Line
Theatrical poster
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYeonpyeong Haejeon
McCune–ReischauerYŏnp'yŏng Haejŏn
Directed byKim Hak-soon
Written byKim Hak-soon
Produced byJung Moon-goo
StarringKim Mu-yeol
Jin Goo
Lee Hyun-woo
CinematographyKim Hyung-koo
Edited bySteve M. Choe
Music byMok Young-jin
Production
company
Rosetta Cinema
Distributed byNext Entertainment World
Release date
  • June 24, 2015 (2015-06-24)
Running time
130 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
BudgetUS$6 million
Box officeUS$38.9 million[1]

Plot

Corporal Park Dong-hyuk is a newly enlisted sailor in the Republic of Korea Navy assigned to the patrol vessel PKM 357. In the midst of the 2002 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Korea, North Korea deploys fishing trawlers with spies to cross the Northern Limit Line (the demarcation line at sea). PKM 357 seizes the trawlers and their men, which allows the spies to familiarise themselves with the ship's superstructure. The North Koreans are eventually released upon orders by the South Korean high command, as part of the government's Sunshine Policy.

Over the coming month, North Korea's Korean People's Navy repeatedly enters South Korean waters to reconnoitre and survey the ROK Navy's patrolling tactics and defensive measures. The South Korean Ministry of Defense is notified about North's strategy but is again ordered by the Blue House to not engage first. South Korea also receives intelligence reports that an attack is forthcoming, but does not change the rules of engagement to counter the looming threat despite the repeated requests of PKM 357's commander, Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha.

On 29 June 2002, the second Battle of Yeonpyeong commences with a surprise attack on PKM 357 by a North Korean patrol vessel. The ensuing battle severely cripples both ships before reinforcements from the South arrives and forces the North's patrol vessel to retreat. 19 wounded and 4 deaths are confirmed before PKM 357 sinks due to uncontrollable fires. Naval divers eventually find the helmsman's body in the sunken vessel.

83 days later, Park Dong-hyuk succumbs to his wounds, becoming the final casualty of the battle. The movie ends with the real life surviving crew members reminiscing about their colleagues with photos of those who perished.

Cast
  • Kim Mu-yeol as Lieutenant Yoon Young-ha (posthumous: Lieutenant Commander)
  • Jin Goo as Petty Officer 1st Class Han Sang-gook
  • Lee Hyun-woo as Petty Officer 3rd Class Park Dong-hyuk
  • Lee Wan as Lieutenant JG Lee Hee-wan
  • Kim Ji-hoon as Petty Officer 1st Class Jo Chun-hyung
  • Jang Joon-hak as Petty Officer 1st Class Hwang Do-hyun
  • Joo Hee-joong as Petty Officer 1st Class Seo Hoo-won
  • Kim Dong-hee as Petty Officer 3rd class Kwon Gi-hyung
  • Kim Ha-kyun as Boatswain
  • Han Seong-yong as Petty Officer 2nd Clasd Lee
  • Kim Dong-beom as Kim Il-byung
  • Lee Cheol-min as Unit 232 general
  • Park Jeong-hak as Lee Dae-joon
  • Cheon Min-hee as Kim Ji-sun
  • Kwon Hwa-woon as Petty Offcier 3rd Class Kim Seung-hyun
  • Park Hyo-jun
  • Jang Eui-soo as Kim Myoen-soo
  • Lee Chung-ah as Lieutenant Choi Yoon-jung (cameo)
  • Song Jae-ho as Yoon Doo-ho (cameo)
  • Sunwoo Jae-duk as young Yoon Doo-ho (cameo)
  • Kim Hee-jung as Park Dong-hyuk's mother (cameo)
  • Choi Jong-hwan as North Korean high-ranking official (cameo)
  • Jung Joo-ri as Visiting girl (cameo)

Production

Director Kim Hak-soon shot the film in 3D, having received a US$1 milliongrant from the Korean Film Council (3D effects were done by Dnext Media). Kim said, "I believe that 3D visuals would enable viewers to feel the pain and fear felt by the (men) in a more effective and immersive way."[2]

After initial investors backed out, it took the film seven years to finish production. A third of the US$6 millionbudget was raised through crowdfunding via donations by 7,000 individuals.[2] They include 23 members of the 2002 South Korea national football team, and Chung Mong-joon, owner of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and former president of the Korea Football Association, who donated ₩100 million.[11]

Release

Northern Limit Line was originally set to premiere on June 11, 2015, but due to concerns over the MERS outbreak, distributor Next Entertainment World delayed the theatrical release by two weeks to June 24.[12][13][14]

Box office

The film topped the box office on its opening day,[15][16][17] and by its first four days of release it had recorded 1.43 million admissions, grossing ₩8.7 billion (US$7.8 million); this was notable since June is considered a slow season for the Korean film industry.[18][19][20]

As of August 2, it has sold 6,024,894 tickets (grossing US$38,945,231), making it the most-watched Korean film in 2015.[21][22][23][24][25][26]

Political reception

While North Korean state media outlet Uriminzokkiri lambasted it, calling it "distorted" and an "anti-DPRK movie," South Korean conservative politicians such as former president Lee Myung-bak recommended the film.[27]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2015 52nd Grand Bell Awards Best Film
Northern Limit Line
 Nominated
Best Director
Kim Hak-soon
 Nominated
Best New Actor
Lee Hyun-woo
 Nominated
30th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Rising Star Won
2016 49th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Won

References
  1. Lee, Hyo-won (20 July 2015). "South Korea Box Office: Inside Out Rises to Top, Pixels Debuts in Third Spot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  2. Lee, Hyo-won (15 June 2015). "Northern Limit Line Director Talks About Promoting Peace With North Korea". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  3. Jin, Eun-soo (5 June 2015). "Yeonpyeong resurrects overshadowed part of history". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. Kim, Hee-eun (27 May 2014). "Film to commemorate Yeonpyeong". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  5. Doo, Rumy (29 June 2015). "Newsmaker – Northern Limit Line: Korean patriotism". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. "Military Marks 13th Anniversary of Naval Skirmish". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  7. Conran, Pierce (11 July 2014). "LEE Hyun-woo Prepares for BATTLE OF YEONPYEONG". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  8. Ghim, Sora (6 May 2015). "The Story Of Brave Men Who Protected The Country". BNTNews. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. Choi, He-suk (17 June 2015). "Actors' pick of best scenes from Northern Limit Line". K-pop Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  10. Kim, Na-hyeon (25 June 2015). "Kim Moo-yeol is back in uniform for NLL film". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  11. "Thousands Crowd Preview of Cross-Border Skirmish Flick". The Chosun Ilbo. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  12. Noh, Jean (5 June 2015). "S Korea's NEW holds film release over Mers outbreak". Screen International. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  13. Lee, Hyo-won (7 June 2015). "South Korean Movie Theaters Suffer Amid MERS Outbreak". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. Conran, Pierce (10 June 2015). "NORTHERN LIMIT LINE Pushed Back over MERS Concerns". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. "Film on inter-Korean naval clash tops box-office". Yonhap. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  16. "Film on inter-Korean naval clash tops box-office". K-pop Herald. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  17. "Battleship movie explodes onto screens". The Korea Times. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  18. Lee, Hyo-won (28 June 2015). "South Korea Box Office: Local War Drama Northern Limit Line Topples Jurassic World". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  19. "Northern Limit Line Draws More Than 1 Million Viewers". The Chosun Ilbo. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  20. Jin, Eun-soo (30 June 2015). "Northern Limit Line breaks domestic records". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  21. "Northern Limit Line Hits 2 Million Viewer Mark". The Chosun Ilbo. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  22. Yoon, Sarah (5 July 2015). "Northern Limit Line battle flick tops 3m ticket sales". K-pop Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  23. "Northern Limit Line, most-viewed Korean film of this year". Yonhap. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  24. "Northern Limit Line Set to Exceed 4 Million Viewer Mark". The Chosun Ilbo. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  25. Conran, Pierce (13 July 2015). "NORTHERN LIMIT LINE Back on Top in Week 3". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  26. "Korean Movies Boost Share of Box Office". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  27. Choi, Ha-young (29 June 2015). "Northern Limit Line about more than past inter-Korean clash". NK News. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
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