Documentary Horumong Opens
The documentary film Horumong opens on 11일, chronicling the life and legal battles of 67-year-old Zainichi human rights activist Shin Suk-ok, khan.co.kr reported.
Born in Tokyo as a third-generation Zainichi, Shin recalled that she initially felt special being called a Chosun-in her childhood, before later facing discrimination such as being threatened by male students while wearing her Chosun school chima jeogori and discovering the difficulty of securing employment at regular companies after high school.
Through modeling work, she escaped severe poverty and eventually established a consulting company handling corporate human rights education at age 25, which grew rapidly alongside mandatory corporate gender equality education trends.
Director Lee Il-ha helms the new project following his 2018 work Counters, which focused on activists opposing anti-Korean demonstrations in Japan. The film uses a recent defamation lawsuit as a gateway to examine decades of anti-minority sentiment.
Her activism began as a turning point in the year 2000, when then-Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara stated that illegal entrants called san-gokujin
were committing heinous crimes and that unrest could occur if a disaster happened, which evoked memories of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake massacres and her grandmother walking in circles around the yard in anxiety fearing Japanese people were chasing her.
Legal Battle Over News Show
Shin fought a legal battle against DHC Television after a 2017 broadcast on TokyoMX program News Joshi claimed she intended to cause chaos in Japan under North Korean orders because of her Zainichi background, khan.co.kr reported. The court battle concluded with her final-instance victory in 2023.
Describing herself as a woman, a Zainichi, tall, and of low educational background, Shin stated that she likes herself and does not want the things that make up me
to be denied. Confronted with baseless hatred, Shin calmly draws a line by stating wrong is wrong
and passionately cries out let’s live together,
speaking without a pessimistic streak while expressing gratitude and remorse.
Regarding the growing global trend of individuals claiming hatred constitutes freedom of expression, she stated that it destroys democracy and must be met with resolute action, noting her approach to hatred involves not trying to persuade others, simply stating I do not think that way,
and joining hands with people sharing the same sensibility while tackling discrimination starting within a five-meter radius of where one lives.
In addition to her activism against the forced repatriation of foreigners like those from Senegal and Nigeria intensifying under the Takaichi administration, she also reflected on her realization that even though she is now an elderly person, she wants to hold hands and offer support if the younger generation faces troublesome situations.
Many predecessors shed blood and faced discrimination, which is why I could exist,
Shin said.
I wanted to create a world where the next generation could live more easily, but I failed.
She explained that her fight against DHC Television felt burdensome because she was the Zainichi woman most heavily criticized in Japanese society at the time, and losing the lawsuit would mean that an even worse situation would be required for anyone to win next time.
Three generations of women connect activism and family history
The documentary weaves together the histories of three generations of women, including Shin, her grandmother Lee Baek-ran, and her mother Keiko, khan.co.kr reported.
Thinking that human rights have risen just because the Korean Wave is popular is a deception,
Shin said, as reported by khan.co.kr, adding that for the far-right, racism functions as entertainment and pleasure, meaning people can enjoy K-pop while simultaneously discriminating against Zainichi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed the documentary Horumong?
Director Lee Il-ha directed the film, following his previous 2018 documentary Counters, khan.co.kr reported.
When did Shin Suk-ok win her defamation lawsuit?
Shin concluded her legal battle against DHC Television with a final-instance victory in 2023, according to khan.co.kr.
Which family members are featured in the film?
The documentary explores the lives of Shin Suk-ok alongside her grandmother Lee Baek-ran and her mother Keiko, khan.co.kr reported.
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