The Chungnam Culture Technology Industry Agency officially announced the launch of Korea’s eleventh regional film commission, the Chungnam Film Commission, on 27 July. The new film commission’s mission is to vitalize and support the film and TV production industry in the province.

 

The launching ceremony that was held in Cheonan city was attended by veteran thespian AHN Sung-ki (Unbowed), filmmaker LEE Joon-ik (Hope), hit producer CHOI Jae-won (The Attorney) and some 100 industry guests, including the directors and chairmen of regional film commissions, in attendance.

 

The first director of the film commission is KIM In-soo, the former managing director of the Korean Film Council. KIM started his career as a line producer on 1993’s Two Cops. Afterwards, he headed Cinema Service with director-producer KANG Woo-suk, and made hit movies such as King And The Clown and Secret Sunshine. After resigning in 2008, he joined the Korean Film Council. His broad experience in on-set production, investment and policy is expected to contribute to the successful settlement of the Chungnam Film Commission in the film industry. KIM Tae-won, who produced hit dramas Jumong, Queen Sundeok and Dream High also joined the organization as the deputy director.

 

The film commission is technically an affiliated organization of the agency, which will handle its operation. According to KIM Nam-oh, the researcher at Chungnam Film Commission, it is currently being planned that the new film commission secedes from the culture agency next year.

 

“This year will be spent building up our own filming locations database and settling down in the industry as a newcomer. Once we are ready with the database, we will then be able to start attracting more productions to shoot in the Chungnam Province.” says KIM.

 

Though the film commission has not yet buckled down to support shootings in the province, there are already productions that are calling the organization for help.

 

Joseon era-set period film Kim Seon-dal (working title) approached the Chungnam Film Commission to ask for help in acquiring the permission to shoot by a river in the province.

 

"We can handle those requests at anytime, as long as the productions know the specific locations in the province they wish to shoot their films. Until the organization is fully fledged, perhaps by next year, however, we will not be very efficient in suggesting or scouting locations from scratch," says KIM.

 

Apart from the basic film commissions' role, the Chungnam Film Commission's ambition is to support the province's independent film productions.

 

In fact, the Chungnam Film Commission already selected three local indie projects to support with a total budget of KRW 15 million (USD 12,500): director BAK Sung-jin's Bicycle (Korean title), CHO Eun-young's Old Person (Korean title) and LEE Yun-seok's The Lake Man (Korean title). The three projects will conduct at least 30% of the production in the province and receive the film commission's support in terms of production budget, shooting equipment and studio rental.

 

"As a new film commission that was just launched, we hope to see more productions, from indie to commercial, TV to film, develop and shoot in the province. Though it will take time, we are planning all kinds of support that can be expected from a regional film commission, including the location incentive programs," KIM says.

 

For service inquiries, the Chungnam Film Commission can be reached through the following contact address.

 

 

 

 

 

A very important moment of Joint Security Area/JSA was shot at the reed field in Sinseongni. LEE Soo-hyuk (LEE Byung-hun), a South Korean soldier, steps on a mine while patrolling the DMZ through the reed field and he is all on his own. North Korean soldiers OH Kyung-pil (SONG Kang-ho) and JUNG Woo-jin (SHIN Ha-kyun), who are supposed to be his enemies, spot him but they lightly tease him, instead of capturing.

As the North Koreans turn their back as if LEE is none of their businesses, LEE bursts out into his famous line "You sons of bitch! You can't just go!" then LEE becomes desperate and changes his attitude at a twitch, saying "Don't go sir… Please help!"

That is the point where young soldiers from both South and North Korea start secret rendezvous. The ironic moment where the enemies turn into life-saving friends is sketched in a mixed atmosphere of humor and tension.

The reeds look bleak and dark in the movie, but it is known that the actual place makes a grand sight, especially in November where the field is full of tall, silver-ish reeds.

 

 
Many still say that the waltz on the beach is the best scene in 2001's Bungee Jumping Of Their Own. College freshmen In-woo (LEE Byung-hun) and Tae-hee (LEE Eun-ju), the lead couple of the movie, secretly escape the campfire set during their membership training event and walk on the beach together. "Can you dance to waltz?" says Tae-hee as she leads In-woo in waltz steps to Dmitri Shostakovich's Waltz no.2. The unforgettable scene was shot on the low-profile yet beautiful Gareumi Beach in Taean in the Chungnam Province. Connected to the white sand beach is the green pine forest that makes the scenery even more dramatic.

 

Another Chungnam Province location where Bungee Jumping of Their Own was shot is Magoksa, the buddhist temple in Gongju city. As the couple hangs out there eating lunch, Tae-hee asks In-woo a phonology question he cannot answer, despite being a Korean-language major: why the soon and the fork have different vowel sounds. The seemingly ridiculous and maybe pointless question turns out to be the clue that helps In-woo recognize the Tae-hee incarnated boy, 17 years after she disappeared on him.

Built in A.D. 640, Magoksa is a quiet, old classic temple with long history and grace. It is known that KIM Gu, Korean nationalist politician who led the Korean independence movement against the Japanese Empire, hid himself there after he killed a Japanese military officer. Magoksa is located adjacent to a valley that is a popular summer gateway.