NK Rights Group Turns to Screen
By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
A North Korean human rights group will screen a motion picture depicting the life of a North Korean defector in an effort to spread their message of unification.
Unify Korea, made up of foreigners and Koreans from both the South and the North, is holding the screening of the film "Crossing" on Saturday, hoping that the vivid portrayal of the secretive state will move people to the cause.
"I believe (people) who see it will want to take action," said American Lauren Walker, an organizer involved with the group.
The film, released last year in Korea, was directed by Kim Tae-gyun and featured Korean actor Cha In-pyo, who starred as the main character.
Cha initially refused to appear in the work, saying that the subject of North Korean refugees was not appealing to South Koreans, but was later moved by images of the country and decided to take the role.
Yoo Sang-jun, on whose life the film is based, is now an activist based in Seoul, and has spent four months in a Chinese prison for his involvement in assisting North Korean defectors.
The rights group, which has staged numerous protests over the last two months, announced that in collaboration with other human rights bodies, they will be staging demonstrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
From Nov. 7 to 9, they will take place in both downtown Seoul, and at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
One of the demonstrations ― which involves a march to Seoul Station ― is, apart from playing on the significance of the date, an effort to replicate the plight of North Korean defectors.
"North Koreans can't vote, so by escaping across the border, it is their way of voting with their feet," said Walker. "So by walking to Seoul station, it is like we are voting with our feet."
Unify Korea has faced resistance from authorities in the past, but do not expect a similar situation with their Nov. 7 plans.
"It's going to be a peaceful demonstration. So I hope that we don't encounter any problems, but you can never say for sure," added Walker.
Korea Times intern JR Breen contributed reporting to this article.