By Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana
Photos = Showbox

A Korean movie with a German reporter at the heart of its story will hit movie theaters this August.

The movie "A Taxi Driver" is based on the true story of Jürgen Hinzpeter (1937-2016), a cameraman for the German broadcaster ARD-NDR who informed the world about the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju in 1980.

The movie unveils this turbulent period in Korea's modern history by following Hinzpeter on his journey from Seoul to Gwangju, accompanied by a taxi driver.



At the risk of losing his life, Hinzpeter filmed the bloodshed of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. On May 22, 1980, his footage of the military assaulting crowds of protestors was broadcast on the evening news across all of West Germany. Thanks to this coverage, news about the pro-democracy movement soon spread in the Western world.

Hinzpeter received the Song Kun-ho Journalism Prize in 2003 for his efforts. In his acceptance speech, he said, "I merely wanted to tell the truth based on what I witnessed. If it weren't for my brave taxi driver, Kim Sa-bok, and the people of Gwangju, the footage of the Democratic Uprising would not have been possible."

This acceptance speech is what inspired Jang Hun, the film's director, to get started on this movie. "The movie shows Gwangju from the perspective of two outsiders, a German reporter and a Seoul taxi driver. It also tells the tale of how an ordinary individual remains true to his calling, even in a time of crisis."

Song Kang-ho, who plays the Seoul taxi driver in the film, said at a press briefing at Seoul's Apgujeong CGV theater on June 20 that he learned about Hinzpeter's courage and passion by playing this role.

Some 37 years after Hinzpeter risked his life to deliver the truth of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, audiences will be able to feel respect and appreciation for him by seeing his story on the big screen this August.

jesimin@korea.kr