Embracing loss : representation of trauma and sacrifice in South Korean war films

Through the analysis of post-liberalisation South Korean (Korea) cinema war films such as Silmido (2003), 71: Into the Fire (2010), and Northern Limit Line (2015), this paper sought to understand how these films represented trauma and sacrifices of Korean men and North Korea. I argued that films are useful in understanding history as the cultural industry produces representations with minor differences between them but are readily accepted by audiences. Films are structured in a linear manner with each scene prescribing a set reactions audience should feel. The contemporary war film genre and as showed in these films, built audience allegiance through the focalisation of narrative through the lens of the protagonists (Koreans) while dehumanising and/or anonymising the threat as evil and omnipresent (North Korea). I argue that despite the end of military rule and the democratisation of Korea’s society that led to liberalisation of Korean Cinema, Korea’s war films have not moved away from representing an anti-North Korean stance and projecting Korean patriotism. This was due to the political and sociocultural factors. Korean society was increasing Americanised in consumer culture and beliefs with Koreans rethinking the usefulness of military services. Furthermore, the rise of political conservatism saw conservative governments promoting politically conservative views, through use of state institutions, of an anti-North Korea, anti-communist, and Korean patriotism.Bachelor of Arts in Histor