The film "TaeGukGi: Brotherhood Of War" is about two brothers who are swept away in a gruesome war and end up fighting on opposite sides. The film, set during the Korean War (1950-1953), was released on February 25, 2004. It was a landmark in the history of Korean cinema, setting a record in ticket sales.

Kang Je-kyu directed "TaeGukGi," five years after making his film "Swiri" in 1999, which also saw record-setting ticket sales. Jang Dong-gun starred as Jin-tae and Won Bin played the younger brother, Jin-seok.



In June 1950, Jin-tae, who lives in Jongno District in downtown Seoul, is about to marry his fiancée, Young-shin, played by Lee Eun-ju. He tries to help his brother Jin-seok enter college. He lives a happy life, though it is not easy to make a living.

The Korean War breaks out and Jin-tae flees to Daegu along with Young-shin and Jin-seok. Upon arriving at Daegu Station to catch the train, Jin-seok is forcibly conscripted by soldiers and boards a military train. Jin-tae tries to bring his brother back, but he ends up on the same military train as he has also been forcibly conscripted.


After their conscription, the two brothers are sent to fight in the battle of the Nakdonggang River. Meanwhile, Young-shin is captured by anti-communist militia and is executed after she is wrongly accused of having helped the North Korean army. Jin-tae comes to believe that Jin-seok is also killed by the South Korean army, and he later joins the North Korean army and becomes a commanding officer. Realizing what has happened, Jin-seok returns to the battle front and confronts his brother after many twists and turns, but Jin-tae dies in battle. Some 50 years later, Jin-seok cries after finding Jin-tae's remains.

The film set many records. It cost KRW 14.7 billion to make, a huge amount of money at the time. Some 25,000 extras were employed and 20,000 military uniforms were used. On its opening day, 324,000 people came to see the movie, beating the previous record of 301,000 for "Silmido," and rewrote Korean film history. The number of screens showing it on opening day was 430, exceeding that of the Lord of the Rings movies.

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Korea Post
jun2@korea.kr



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