May 18 (film)

May 18
Theatrical poster
Hangul	화려한 휴가
RR	Hwaryeohan hyuga
MR	Hwaryŏhan hyuga
Directed by	Kim Ji-hun
Produced by	Yoo In-taek
Written by	Park Sang-yeon
Starring	Ahn Sung-ki Lee Jun Ki Kim Sang Gyeong Lee Yo Won
Distributed by	CJ Entertainment
Release date(s)	July 27, 2007 (2007-07-27)
Running time	118 min.
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	$10.9 million US est.
Admissions	6,831,917

May 18 (화려한 휴가 - Hwaryeohan hyuga lit. Elaborate Holiday) is a South Korean film released in 2007.

Synopsis

The film is based on the massacre at Gwangju on May 18. It occurred when President Chun Doo-hwan tried to eliminate any rebels by using military force.

Min Woo leads a relatively peaceful life with his younger brother Jin Woo—until the day the soldiers go on the rampage against the citizens. The citizens form a militia determined to protect their loved ones, and Min-woo finds himself in the middle of it all.

Timeline of the Gwangju Massacre

May 17, 1980

After the Coup d'état of December Twelfth (1979) in Seoul, ROK Army Lieutenant General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of Security Command, declared martial law on May 17, 1980 to suppress student demonstrations around the country. The next day, students in Gwangju protested at the gate of Chonnam National University against the closing of the university, when armed forces blocking the university responded with violent means. After the incident, students moved into the downtown area, where they were joined by the citizens of the city. The growing crowd was met by the use of force, including gunfire, that caused some fatalities.

May 20, 1980

As the news of the fatalities spread, on May 20, protesters burned down the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation local station which, under effective government control, portrayed the protests as hooligans led by Communist agents. By May 21, some 300,000 people had joined the protest against the General's power; weapons depots and police stations were looted of their weapons and the civil militias, known as the Citizen Army, beat back the armed forces, killing several soldiers.

With all routes and communications leading in and out of the city blocked by armed forces, a civilian body was formed to maintain order and conduct negotiations with the government. Although order was well maintained, a number of negotiations to resolve the situation failed to achieve any results.

May 27, 1980

On May 27, airborne and army troops from five divisions were inserted and defeated the civil militias in the downtown area in only 90 minutes.

Cast

• Ahn Sung-ki as Park Heung Su
• Kim Sang Kyung as Kang Min Woo
• Lee Jun Ki as Kang Jin Woo
• Lee Yo Won as Shin-ae Park
• Song Jae Ho as Priest
• Park Won Sang
• Jung In Gi
• Lee Eol
• Park Cheol Min
• Choi Jae Han
• Park Yong Su
• Im Hyun Sung
• Kwon Tae Won as General Choi
• Heo Hyun Hwa
• Uhm Hyo Su

Trivia

1. Filming took place over 12 acres (49,000 m²) at the High-tech Science Industrial Park in northern Gwangju. Over 600 extras were used for the protest scenes.
2. Other titles depicting the Gwangju Uprising: Song of Resurrection, Buhwaleui nolae (1991)

External links

• Official Website (Korean)
• Official Website (Japanese)
• May 18 (film) at the Internet Movie Database
• May 18 at HanCinema