Screening Approved for Chinese Film 'Geumseongdae Battle' Depicting Defeat of ROK Army... Opposition Presidential Candidates Strongly Oppose

Yoo Seung-min "Do Not Embarrass the People"
Choi Jae-hyung "What Is the Intention Behind Showing a Movie Glorifying the People's Army?"
Won Hee-ryong "Withdraw Immediately"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Opposition presidential candidates have poured criticism over the Korea Media Rating Board’s approval of the import of the film ‘1953 Geumseong Battle’ (original title ‘Geumgangcheon’), which glorifies the Chinese People's Volunteer Army as heroes just before the armistice during the Korean War.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 7th, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min stated on social media (SNS), "The Korea Media Rating Board has assigned a viewing rating to the Chinese film ‘1953 Geumseong Battle,’ which glorifies the Chinese invasion during the Korean War," adding, "This is nothing short of shocking."

Yoo criticized, "Former President Moon Jae-in’s humiliating remark that ‘Korea is a small country, China is a high mountain peak’ still makes the people boil with anger," and said, "Is it not enough that we have to watch a film praising the Chinese invaders of the Republic of Korea in our own living rooms?"

He pointed out, "Since the deployment of THAAD, China has maintained the ban on Korean entertainment content, rejecting Korean dramas and films," and questioned, "Is Moon Jae-in’s version of ‘reciprocity’ to consistently take a humiliating stance toward the Chinese government?" Yoo emphasized, "The Republic of Korea is a much ‘bigger country’ than the Moon Jae-in administration thinks," and urged, "Stop embarrassing the nation and its people."

Choi Jae-hyung, former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a People Power Party presidential candidate, also introduced the film ‘1953 Geumseong Battle’ as "a movie produced to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, as described on the Chinese portal site ‘Baidu.’" He added, "The movie poster states, ‘Along with the ruthless bombing by U.S. forces, a large-scale offensive by the Korean army, burning with ambitions to advance north, begins. The People’s Army engineering corps prepared for a desperate fight. The final battle of the People’s Army stained Geumgangcheon with the blood of the Korean army division.’"

He questioned, "Who exactly provoked the war?" and criticized, "The film was produced entirely from the perspective of China and North Korea, depicting the Geumseong Battle, which resulted in 1,701 dead, 7,548 wounded, and 4,136 prisoners and missing soldiers." Choi stated, "Judgment and criticism of the film belong to the viewers, but what is the intention behind showing a film that portrays the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, who participated in an invasion war, as heroes to young people?"

Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also criticized, "The biggest problem with this film is that it distorts history," and said, "Many citizens are simply baffled as to how a film that distorts history passed the Korea Media Rating Board’s review."

Won pointed out, "As a result of this battle, the South Korean army was pushed back about 4 km from the Geumseong garrison to the rear, losing 193 square kilometers of territory that could have been ours," and questioned, "How can a film that glorifies the painful history of the Republic of Korea as ‘the final battle of the People’s Army stained Geumgangcheon with the blood of the Korean army division’ be screened in the heart of South Korea?"

He added, "Since its inauguration, the Moon Jae-in administration has continuously pursued humiliating pro-China diplomacy, stabbing a dagger into the hearts of the people, and once again inflicted painful wounds on the nation and its patriotic spirits," demanding, "Immediately stop the one-sided pro-China actions that have no justification or achievements and withdraw the domestic screening of the Chinese film ‘1953 Geumseong Battle,’ which distorts history."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.