Funding for the Production of 'Silence No. 43' Documentary
Representative Son Myeong-hwa secretly wrapped the remains of her father, Son Dong-sik, a South Korean prisoner of war, in dried pollack and smuggled them on a boat to return to South Korea.
Despite receiving DNA testing in her homeland that confirmed her as the child of her father, whose remains she had brought back, she was not recognized as a child of a national meritorious person due to incorrect records on the family registry.
Similarly, there are many families of South Korean prisoners of war who are not recognized as families of national merit by the state.
By reporting and revealing this reality, the intention is to highlight and inform about the flawed historical perspective that dishonors war heroes who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives for the nation.
When the country was in danger, their youthful twenties were spent leaving their school bags behind, ignoring their mothers' tears, and marching to the battlefield, dedicating their entire selves. The 70 years, marked with their sacrificed blood, were years of longing where bones withered away. The homeland had forgotten them, but they couldn't sleep properly at night, yearning for their hometown.
The children of Korean War veterans, who risked their lives to escape from the living hell of human existence, came out to fulfill their father's dying wish, which was to see their hometown at least once and then close their eyes. However, even though the results of their father's DNA test have come out, they are not recognized as his descendants and continue to live in an unjust reality. They claim that they went to the North voluntarily, but they have not received recognition even from the National Veterans Affairs Division.
With the passage of time, their loyalty is gradually being forgotten, and their descendants are being despised for their lack of education, living a life unrecognized in poverty. They struggle through their entire lives, unable to provide help even though they want to
Life after the repatriation of Korean War prisoners of war. Who are their descendants? Through the production of this documentary, we aim to shed light on the lives of Korean War prisoners of war and their descendants. We kindly request your interest and support. Thank you.
- Documentary production followed by a scheduled broadcast on KBS.
- Following the launch of the special IP business with Universal, HBO, BBC, Amazon, Netflix, etc., all profits are planned to be donated to the 'Association for Families of South Korean POWs'.
Son MyeonghwaWriter
Born on February 26, 1962, in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, as the second daughter among two sons and five daughters to father Son Dongsik and mother Jeon Subok. Graduated from Cheongjin High School of Economics in August 1982, she married a People's Army officer under challenging circumstances, but the marriage eventually fell apart. In October 2005, she escaped North Korea with her youngest son and spent 13 days evading the Chinese police in Ando, China. They traveled through Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Mongolia, and finally entered South Korea, her father's homeland, in December. Since 2012, she has been serving as the office manager of the 6.25 Korean War POW Family Association, a group registered with the Ministry of National Defense. In January 2018, she took on the role of president of the 6.25 Korean War POW Family Association and has been serving the families of Korean War POWs. She is the author of 'Silent No. 43', published on May 20, 2021.
Yoo CheolyongExecutive Producer
He majored in Film Studies at Stockholm University and is currently the vice president and chief director of Story TV Co., Ltd., a South Korean broadcast drama production company. He first gained attention for the 2003 drama 'All In', for which he received the Grand Prize in the TV category at the 39th Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2015, he won the Best Director Award at the 10th Asia Drama Conference and has a record of other awards. Since then, he has successfully produced and directed dozens of dramas, achieving commercial success.
Jung YohanPlanner
He graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in Law. He developed and planned a talent management training program for the entertainment star system and has served as the representative of VM Entertainment, where he filed a patent for virtual management VM. He has been the president of GF Education Center and has provided educational consulting, research and development, and educational development for corporations and government offices such as Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Korea Industrial Bank, Board of Audit and Inspection, Financial Supervisory Service, Seoul Metropolitan Government, JDC, Korea Export-Import Bank, domestic university hospitals, SK Group, Samsung Human Resource Development Center, and the Small and Medium Business Training Institute. Additionally, he has conducted technical consulting for power plant and incinerator projects, including commissioning and O&M business with Hyundai Construction, Hyundai Heavy Industries, GS Construction, POSCO Construction, SK E&S, and Central Power. He is currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Association for Families of South Korean POWs.
Sohn YoungsunDirector
He majored in Visual Design and Animation and completed his master's in New Media Video Studies at Sookmyung Women's University. He began his career directing music videos and has worked as a director for corporate commercials and promotional videos for major companies such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motors, and Doosan Construction. Additionally, he has directed about 50 documentaries that promote Korean history and culture worldwide, receiving favorable responses internationally. He has a keen interest in North Korean human rights and defector issues, producing and directing short and medium-length films related to these topics, for which he has received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award.
Kim Jeong-hoCinematographer
He is currently active as a cinematographer and director for commercial films and dramas. With over 20 years of experience in filming and directing, he is a notable figure in the film industry. He has won multiple awards for best cinematography at international film festivals, and in 2023, he received the Golden Cinematography Award, which boasts a history of over 50 years in South Korea.