The Korean War was a conflict between North and South Korea that lasted roughly three years from 1950-1953. Today the Republic of Korea stands as a vibrant democracy due to the courage, sacrifice and honorable service of the previous generations.8 million American veterans who served in the Korean War. Now in their 80s, they are beginning to fade away, taking with them the precious memories of war and life at that time. As the weight of age falls heavier upon them, their voices grow quieter as they retreat into silence. Some description of the Korean War can be found in literature, museums, text books, and other archived war footages, However, without experiencing the war firsthand, it is difficult to visualize the true horror of those turbulent times. The producers of Fading Away have gathered some of these people to rediscover their lost voices and to unearth their thought provoking stories of the Korean War.
None of these stories have ever been told — until now.
Americans killed and wounded: 157,477
South Koreans killed and wounded: 944,900
Captured and Missing In Action: 29,400
UN members: 40,000
American men and women served: 6,800,000
Korean War vets in US 1990: 3,900,000
“Fading Away,” will be the last Korean War documentary produced with eyewitnesses of the war.
“Fading Away,” stands apart from other war documentaries for its unique insight into the personal lives of the civilians affected by the war. The exclusive footage of battle scenes, chaos, visual recreations, and reenactments shape the context in which the civilians, refugees, and orphans recall their memories of war.
“Untold stories of the Korean War by our fathers and mothers.”
“Fading Away,” untold stories of Korean War by our soldiers and fathers, would be the last Korean War documentary produced with eyewitnesses of war.
“Fading Away” stands apart from other war documentaries for its unique insight into the personal lives of the civilians affected by the war. The exclusive footage of battle scenes, chaos, visual recreations, and reenactments shape the context in which the civilians, refugees, and orphans recall their memories of war.
“Fading Away” commenced its official international college tour at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts on April 17, 2013 to kick-off a 100 college tour in the U.S. and South Korea. Earlier versions have been screened at multiple theaters, receiving overwhelming praise from Korean government officials, college executives and students. Fading Away has also been accepted to various international film festivals in which we hope to further spread our message.
“Fading Away” showcases several exclusive stories from a group of Korean War veterans and refugees. Through a series of interviews and the use of rare historical film footage, photos and other archival material, veterans and survivors shared their stories of catastrophe, fear, and the pains which they so vividly remember. The film is divided into seven parts, strung together and led by the powerful recollection of a 13 year-old Korean War orphan who fled the North to the South.
The film also highlights a love story of an American couple who met during the Korean War, as well as the unique perspective of several female soldiers who share the intimate details of the war and its impact on their lives today.
Director:
CHRISTOPHER H.K. LEE
Associate Producers:
David Quinn
Suren Seron
Ron Gwak
[Cast: (alphabetical order)]
GEORGE AHN
MARY AHN
YOUNG OK BANG
THOMAS Y. CHUNG
BONG KEON KIM
DONG SUNG KIM
EUN HEE LEE
JONG SHIN LEE
BYUNG TAEK LIM
EUGENE PARK
SOON GIL PARK
SHIN JA SUNWOO
FRANK WINSLOW
JOSSEYLN WINSLOW
BOK HEE YI
[Interns]
WONWHA CHO, Busan National University
JACOB HAN
MEG HWANG, Mercersburg Academy
DAHYE KIM, John Brown University
ERIC KIM
HANNAH KIM
JEAINNY KIM, Vivian Webb School
MINYOUNG KIM, CSUN
PATRICK KOH
JOOMES KWAK, USC
CASIE LEE, UC Berkeley
DAVID LEE, La Canada High School
NAE HYUN LEE, Occidental College
RACHEL LIM, Occidental College
LUCAS MOK, Cal-Poly Pomona
LUNA MOON, Busan National University
ARIA PARK, Occidental College
EMILY PARK, Oxford Academy
HEEJUNG SARAH SIM, CSUN
WOOJIN YOO, Seoul Arts College
[Special Thanks]
ALESSANDRO AGO, Director of Programming and Special Projects, School of Cinematic Arts USC
HONG JIN BYUN, Journalist, International Korean War Memorial Foundation
EUNSUK AND GLORIA CHOE
CGV CINEMAS, Los Angeles
VICKIE EISENSTEIN
BARBARA FOELBER, Communications Director, DoD 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee
ROBERT GRASMERE
MR. AND MRS. SOO YOUNG HAN
DAVID (SUNG) JUNG
KAYA
KEN KLEIN, East Asia Library, USC
KOREA DAILY, Los Angeles
KOREA TIMES, Los Angeles
KWANG SHIK HONG
CHONG SUN LEE, “My Mother”
JIN-SOOK LEE, MBC Korea
SOOYOUNG LEE, PGA member
JUNG MEE, JM Animation, Korea
MICHAEL SCHULTZ
SEOUL TOURISM ORGANIZATION, Korea
KATHY AND TIM STOWE and their family
Sunny SMART LAB
JEFF WINSLOW
ALYSSA WOO, Divided-Families
DUK HYUNG YOO, Seoul Institute of Arts
GRACE YOO, Korean American Coalition
[Archival Film Footage and pictures]
CITY OF BUSAN, KOREA
HARVEY KIRK
PETER Y. MAENG
CHOONG YOUNG OH, Ray Gallery
ROK, Ministry of National Defense
FRANK WINSLOW
U.S. National Archives
[Advisors]
IL-WHAN OH, Korea Education and Research Institute for Patriots and Veterans, Korea
YONG HAN KEUM, Korean Education Center in Los Angeles
IN SUNG CHOI, Journalist
KYU-SIK HWANG, (f) V. President of Ministry of National Defense, ROK
YENA YOO,Korea Daily, Los Angeles
SANG SOO NAM, Business Consultant
KATHY STOW, Ed. D., Associate Professor of Clinical Education, USC
WALTER SANTUCCI, Film Director/College Lecturer
SANG WOO AHN,Korea Times, Los Angeles
60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Special Screening at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC – June 26-27, 2013
In cooperation with American Dream Supporters, The Korean American Coalition, Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of Korean War Commemoration Committee and Remember 727 the highly emotional international Korean War Documentary was screened at the Navy Memorial in Washington D.C. at 6:30PM on July 26, 2013 and at 7:00PM at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on July 27, 2013. This event was to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Armistice Day to honor the sacrifices of the Korean War Veterans and to educate the general public about the significance of the “Forgotten War.”
Columbia University Harvard University MIT Cornell University University of New York University of Rochester Clark University USC UCLA Williams College Wellesley Amherst Yale University Purdue University Carnegie Mellon University University of Pennsylvania Purdue University Princeton University Arizona State University Boston University 한양대한국예술종합 서울예대 이화여대 숙명여대 국방대학 서울대 고려대 연세대 서강대 성균관대 중앙대 경희대
“when Eugene (main character) was telling his own story-actually, I got very emotional and self sympathetic as I listened to every stories. They were heart-warming stories and memories it help me think about my own parents.” – Sunny Kim (22)
“It was very emotional to see the picture of older woman with a soldier (husband and wife) – key point of gap, of detachment.” – Casie Lee (19)
“I loved it! I really hope many history classes can show this to the students. I don’t usually watch documentary films but this is all drama. I really liked the individual stories and personal memories of each cast members and I can relate to every bit of their emotions.” – Jenny Thomas (21)
"평범한 이들의 '6·25'… 드라마보다 더 드라마틱" - 조선일보 "More dramatic than the drama" - Chosun Newspaper
“리 감독님,
지난 연말 감독님과의 만남은 매우 뜻깊은 일이었습니다. 외국에 살아야 진정한 애국자가 된다는 말은 감독님의 행위에서 다시금 확인할 수 있었습니다. 잊혀져 가는 기억들을 담는 작업은 역사의 재생을 위하여 그 무엇보다도 소중한 일입니다. Fading Away는 분명 자료적 가치뿐만 아니라, 불후의 명작이 되리라 여깁니다.
-오일환 드림
대한민국 보훈교육원 원장
President, Korea Education and Research Institute for Patriots and Veterans, Korea
“I finished watching the documentary. I agree that it’s more detailed, aesthetic and elaborated docu than others. It seems well framed and structured in terms of developing the story. You intended or not, I felt I was watching semi-docu/drama since the testimonies are so emotional, and realistic.” – Yuni Kim, Korea Society
“My favorite part of the movie is when each narrator told the story of remembering their parents and sharing what it would be like if they got to meet them again…” – Harrison Lee (16)
“Very touching and moving. the movie brought out the personal side of this tragic war. it breathed the humanity, our story. Everyone must see this documentary… well done, indeed…” – Heawon Paick
버지니아 애난데일에 있는 “한강”식당에서 크리스토버 리 감독님을 만났어요.~ 그분을 만나 이제껏 “Fading Away”라는 다큐영화를 만드신 과정을 들으면서 참 감동을 받았습니다. 그분의 말씀하시는 모습에서 감독님의 열정과 담대함을 보면서 많은 것을 느꼈습니다. 오늘 Fading away 다큐멘터리 영화를 보면서 제가 어머니를 그리워 하며 울부짓던 순간이 생각났고, 불쌍히 돌아가신 저의 외할머니가 생각났습니다. 다큐영화를 만드시고 제작한 감독님을 만나뵙게 되어 너무 기쁘고 좋았습니다. – Grace Jo, Annandale, Virginia
“Dear 크리스감독님:
시사회에 초대해주셔서 감사합니다.
시사회에서 뵈었던 다큐 인터뷰참가자 할아버지 할머니들, 그리고 연령을 초월한 다양한 관객층을 보면서, 그리고 많은분들이 힘찬 기립박수를 보면서 가슴이 뭉클해졌습니다.
전쟁관련 영화나 다큐멘터리를 좋아하지않아 많이 본적은 없지만 제가 지금까지 봤던 한국 전쟁관련 스토리중 가장 신선하고 따뜻했습니다. 무엇보다 감독님의 다큐제작의 순수한 의도가 앞으로 많은 이들에게 한국전 역사를 새롭게 바라보도록 해줄거라 믿어의심치 않습니다.
말씀드린대로 간단하게나마 제가 인상깊었던 점을 전해드립니다.
다 큐안의 다양한 인터뷰 참가자들의 모습과 언급들이 빠르게, 그러나 flow에 부합되게 교차되는 다이내믹한 편집으로인해 생생한 흥미가 끝까지 이어질수 있었던점이 좋았습니다.
13세 전쟁고아소년으로, 23세의 청년병사로, 10대후반 여학생여군으로, 간호사로, 피난민으로, 1기엘리트장교로, 인민재판에 회부된 목사아들로..등의 당시의 상황을 회상하는 그들의 다양한 시점들이 입체적으로 전달되었습니다. 그들의 시점은 단지 전쟁뿐만 아니라 인생의 비극을 바라보는 우리들의 보편적 시각을 망라해주는 듯했습니다.
이 점이 가장 저는 인상깊었습니다.
특히 당시 여군들의 생성배경과 그들의 이야기는 지금까지 한번도 들어본적이 없는 새로운 조명이고, 기차지붕과 문간에 매달린 피난민들의 터널을 지나는 이야기는 짧은 자료화면과 증언이었지만 당시를 선명하게 상상하게 해주었습니다.
한국이 아닌 타국(미국)에서 찾은, 그 후의 고국의 정치적, 문화적 변화에 영향받지 않은 한국전쟁에 대한 기억들이기에 어쩌면 더 참신하고, 또 보편적일 수 있다고 생각합니다.
지난세기의 한국전쟁 스토리지만, 내용과 영상의 선명한 편집은 더 이상 자료 footage추가없이도 제작의도의 충분한 전달과 어린 젊은세대들에게도 흥미롭게 어필할 수 있다고 생각합니다. ” – S.Y. Jung, Los Angeles
“My recently deceased father was a ‘mi gook’ serving in Korea during the hostilities of 1950-53 at the same age of many of the viewers of the Amherst College screening of Fading Away. He chose not to talk about his experiences there and the memories of many American servicemen during that period are also “fading away” as evidenced by the lack of cultural memorials to that era in America today and the aging of that generation. There are many Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII and Vietnam War remembrances in the U.S. but very little concerning the Korean War, often described as a “policing action” of UN perogatives. This film helped me gain some perspective about his experiences there, through the experiences of the native population depicted in this film, thank you.”. – Michael Shifflett, Amherst, MA
“Cried, smiled, and laughed at so many unexpected scenes. watched it during midterm week and still thought every minute was worth it. MUST WATCH if you consider yourself Korean, Korean-American, or simply human.” – Jenny Yang, Wellesley, MA
“I really loved the movie and it was truly very emotional. Even as an East Asian studies major I really learned a lot. Thank you.” – Sophia Chen, Wellesley, MAe
