[On the Record] Director Kim Han-min: "Joseon Nearly Split... We Must Remember Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Great Vision"

Movie 'Noryang: Sea of Death' Directed

The Third Yi Sun-sin Trilogy Following 'Myeongryang' and 'Hansan'
Persistent Noryang Naval Battle... Signifying Complete Conclusion and Surrender

Director Kim Han-min
[Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works Co., Ltd., Lotte Entertainment]

"It was truly a stroke of luck..." Director Kim Han-min (55) quoted Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545?1598) as he shared his thoughts upon completing the final film in the series, 'Noryang: Sea of Death' (hereafter 'Noryang'), which he had built up over ten years.

Following 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (2014), which recorded the highest audience numbers in Korean film history with 17.61 million viewers, last year's 'Hansan: Rising Dragon' (2022) attracted 7.26 million viewers. The grand finale, 'Noryang,' was released on the 20th of last month and has accumulated 443,000 viewers. In an interview with Asia Economy, Director Kim said, "I feel nervous and tense, but also relieved."

At the time of 'The Admiral's release, the Sewol ferry disaster plunged the entire nation into grief, and in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread, causing difficulties in filming 'Hansan' and 'Noryang.' Reflecting on those times, Director Kim said, "I was fortunate," adding, "I am deeply moved."

Movie 'Noryang: Sea of Death' stills [Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works Co., Ltd., Lotte Entertainment]

"I was determined not to bring shame to Yi Sun-sin's name"

'Noryang: Sea of Death,' released on the 20th of last month, is a war action film depicting Admiral Yi Sun-sin's final battle to completely annihilate the Japanese forces retreating from Joseon after seven years since the outbreak of the Imjin War. It is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Noryang, which ended the seven-year Imjin War. On the 18th day of the 11th lunar month in 1598, about 70 Joseon warships and 400 Ming dynasty warships advanced to Noryang. The combined forces numbered 16,000 soldiers. Yi Sun-sin, alongside Ming deputy commander Chen Lin, attacked the Japanese forces gathered in the Noryang Strait from dawn the next day. Out of the approximately 500 Japanese ships preparing to cross to Japan, about 200 were destroyed. While pursuing the retreating Japanese fleet toward Gwanuampo, Yi Sun-sin was struck by a flying bullet and died in battle. The film is based on these events.

"I did not obsess over Yi Sun-sin with an indomitable will. It happened naturally. I constantly pondered how to overcome each moment, but I never wavered. I believed each naval battle was meaningful. The Battle of Noryang was special. The key question was why Yi Sun-sin was so persistent and fierce in his final battle, and what message he wanted to convey. After much thought, I arrived at the answer of complete closure and surrender. Upon discovering this conclusion, I was confident that 'I will not disgrace the general.'

'Noryang' includes the well-known scene of Yi Sun-sin's death, famous for the last words, "Do not let the enemy know of my death." Instead of the widely known line, the scene was completed with a very simple and powerful tone. This is considered the film's greatest virtue. Director Kim said, "I debated whether or not to film a scene that the entire nation knows, but ultimately concluded that it had to be filmed."

Director Kim Han-min [Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works Co., Ltd., Lotte Entertainment]

He continued, "I wondered, if Yi Sun-sin had said one more thing, what would it have been? After thinking about it, a confident phrase came to mind. It was necessary to have a scene where he says that line as he passes away. That was also the meaning behind making 'Noryang.'" The funeral procession scene, where the bier is carried out, was discouraged by those around him. Even producers advised against it due to budget concerns. With over 300 people involved, it was not an easy production. Director Kim insisted, "We must film it."

"It was important both to conclude the trilogy and to fully send off Admiral Yi Sun-sin. I hoped that scene would convey an unexpectedly deep resonance. The death scene was originally placed between the funeral and the end of the war in the script. After filming, when placed there, it did not fit well. But when attached to the funeral scene, it fit perfectly. We also saw an unexpected effect. The Yi Sun-sin portrait and that scene blended exquisitely, bringing a good conclusion."

"Joseon almost split in two... Let us not forget the meaning of the war's end"

Following actors Choi Min-sik and Park Hae-il, Kim Yoon-seok portrayed the final Yi Sun-sin. Director Kim remarked, "Ten years have passed while directing the trilogy." He explained, "The Yi Sun-sin in 'The Admiral' was a brave general stepping forward amid widespread fear; Choi Min-sik was suitable for that role. The young Yi Sun-sin in 'Hansan' was a cool-headed strategist and tactician, so Park Hae-il was cast. For 'Noryang,' a wise Yi Sun-sin who contemplates how to end the war while looking to the future was needed. Kim Yoon-seok, who has an aura, was appropriate."

Movie 'Noryang: Sea of Death' stills
[Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works·Lotte Entertainment]

Director Kim is concluding the Yi Sun-sin film trilogy and moving on to the Imjin War. He is planning a drama about the Imjin War. He said, "If it weren't for Yi Sun-sin, we might be speaking Japanese now," and explained, "The country was almost split in two back then, too."

"The Imjin War is terrifying not only because of the history of invasion but also because of the peace negotiations that took place over five years during the war. The core of those negotiations was dividing Joseon into two parts. Just imagining it is horrifying. While it is important not to forget the tragic events of the seven years of the Imjin War, the most important thing is that there was an attempt to divide us at that time. It is also noteworthy that we were excluded from the power struggle. We must clearly remember what complete closure of a war means in history. I want to emphasize that the person who advocated and carried out that was Admiral Yi Sun-sin."