National Security
National Security
The film focuses closely on Kim Jong-tae’s repeated torture at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office as the days pass. It features Lee Doo-han, a torturer played by Lee Kyung-young. The film depicts Kim Jong-tae being taken to the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office and undergoing interrogation and torture.
OVERALL TRUTH BASIS · Fact-based dramatization
A work that recreates the torture democratization activist Kim Geun-tae experienced at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office in 1985, based on his own records and actual events.
Kim Geun-tae’s torture at Namyeong-dong
The incident in which democratization activist Kim Geun-tae was unlawfully detained for an extended period and tortured at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office.
FACT / FICTION
Verification 7
Fact / Fiction verification
7 recordsThe official English title of <Namyeong-dong 1985> is National Security, and it is a 2012 film directed by Jung Ji-young.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- —
- Verified record
- This is confirmed by KOFIC materials.
View 1 sources
- National Security (2012)KOFIC KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade BOpen source →
The film is directly based on the torture Kim Geun-tae suffered at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office in 1985.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- The process of being tortured for an extended period in Namyeong-dong occupies most of the running time.
- Verified record
- KOFIC explains that the film is based on Kim Geun-tae’s actual experience and autobiographical records.
View 2 sources
- A Record of Korea's Dark Modern HistoryKOFIC Korean Cinema Today · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- A Korean odyssey toward democracyKOFIC Ko-pick · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
Kim Jong-tae in the film is a character based on Kim Geun-tae, with part of his name changed.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- —
- Verified record
- The KOFIC democratization feature explains that Kim Geun-tae is portrayed in the film under a slightly altered name.
View 1 sources
- A Korean odyssey toward democracyKOFIC Ko-pick · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
The director began work in earnest on adapting Kim Geun-tae’s experiences into a film shortly after his death.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- —
- Verified record
- The reason production began is confirmed in a KOFIC interview with the director.
View 1 sources
- CHUNG Ji-young, Director of NATIONAL SECURITYKOFIC Korean Cinema Today · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
Kim Geun-tae was taken into custody on September 4, 1985, and detained at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- The film depicts Kim Jong-tae being taken to the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office, where he is interrogated and tortured.
- Verified record
- According to records from the Korea Democracy Foundation, Kim Geun-tae was arrested on September 4, 1985, and detained at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office.
View 1 sources
- 남영동 대공분실 소개민주화운동기념사업회 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
The period of torture the film focuses on is based on records of the 22 days of torture Kim Geun-tae actually experienced.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- The film focuses on Kim Jong-tae’s experience of repeated torture at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office over a succession of days.
- Verified record
- The production team explained that the film was based primarily on Kim Geun-tae’s memoir and records of the 22-day torture process.
View 1 sources
- [남영동 1985] 거의 반 미친 채로, 찍었다씨네21 · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
The character Lee Doo-han, who perpetrates torture in the film, is a reworked character with a changed name, based primarily on Lee Geun-an, known as an actual torturer.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
- The film features Lee Doo-han, the torture perpetrator played by Lee Kyeong-yeong.
- Verified record
- Contemporary descriptions of the work and the director’s statements say that Kim Geun-tae appears as Kim Jong-tae and Lee Geun-an as Lee Doo-han.
View 2 sources
- [남영동 1985] 거의 반 미친 채로, 찍었다씨네21 · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- <남영동 1985> National Security씨네21 · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
CHARACTER ↔ PERSON
Characters and real people
김종태
Fictionalized real personBased on a real personKim Geun-tae →
이두한
Fictionalized real personBased on a real personLee Geun-an →
Sources used
- National Security (2012)KOFIC KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade BOpen source →
- A Record of Korea's Dark Modern HistoryKOFIC Korean Cinema Today · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- A Korean odyssey toward democracyKOFIC Ko-pick · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- CHUNG Ji-young, Director of NATIONAL SECURITYKOFIC Korean Cinema Today · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- 남영동 대공분실 소개민주화운동기념사업회 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- [남영동 1985] 거의 반 미친 채로, 찍었다씨네21 · Major news · Grade BOpen source →
- <남영동 1985> National Security씨네21 · Major news · Grade BOpen source →