The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS stars shine brighter as solo artists

  • 3

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 5

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 7

    Rowoon leaves SF9 to focus on acting career

  • 9

    Korea urged to adopt China exit strategy amid hegemonic war

  • 11

    Netflix's 'Song of the Bandits' blends western action with Korean period series

  • 13

    Foreign ministry asks Japan to investigate case of Korean poisoned with bleach in Tokyo

  • 15

    Lamborghini driver suspect sent to prosecutors over parking dispute in Gangnam

  • 17

    Unfreezing of funds not likely to restore Korea-Iran ties

  • 19

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 2

    '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance

  • 4

    North Korean escapees tell how nuclear tests ruined their health, hometown

  • 6

    ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first

  • 8

    USFK soldier, 2 women arrested for drug trafficking

  • 10

    Seventeen to drop 11th EP next month

  • 12

    INTERVIEWPutin uses summit with NK leader to stop Seoul from helping Ukraine: expert

  • 14

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 16

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 18

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 20

    Seoul plans to build Jamsil Sports MICE Complex

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Fri, September 22, 2023 | 21:38
Films
INTERVIEW'Emergency Declaration' director wanted to deliver hope through disaster
Posted : 2022-08-04 16:00
Updated : 2022-08-09 14:01
Lee Gyu-lee
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
                                                                                                 'Emergency Declaration' follows a terrorist attack on an airplane. Courtesy of Showbox
"Emergency Declaration" follows a terrorist attack on an airplane. Courtesy of Showbox

New film draws mixed responses from audiences

By Lee Gyu-lee

The star-studded disaster film "Emergency Declaration," one of the most-anticipated flicks of this year, has finally hit movie theaters, Wednesday, after a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

                                                                                                 'Emergency Declaration' follows a terrorist attack on an airplane. Courtesy of Showbox
Han Jae-rim, director of the film "Emergency Declaration" / Courtesy of Showbox
The film's director Han Jae-rim, whose previous works include the 2013 historical film "The Face Reader" and 2017 crime film "The King," said that he wanted to deliver a message of hope through the disaster film.

"I wanted to talk about hope ― that if we come together in a catastrophic situation, we can get through it," Han said in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.

"When I wrote the script and started filming, I had no idea that the coronavirus pandemic would come. The film shows conflicts that are also seen in this pandemic … I wanted to cast light on healing and hope while also portraying humanity undergoing changes from psychological fear."

The blockbuster film revolves around a terrorist attack on a flight bound for Hawaii from Korea. A terrorist threat is made online, and as detective In-ho (Song Kang-ho) finds out that the suspect (Im Si-wan) was on the flight, a passenger dies suddenly on the plane.

While people on board, including Jae-hyuk (Lee Byung-hun) and Hyun-soo (Kim Nam-gil), try to deal with the rising tension and panic erupting among passengers, In-ho joins the government authorities' operation to save the lives of all on board.

The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, opened on Wednesday at the top of the local box office, with about 336,000 ticket sales.

The director expressed excitement about the film's long-awaited opening. "It took years to release. We screened it to audiences at Cannes last year and received feedback. But it feels like another premiere. Meeting Korean audiences feels incomparably exciting and nerve-wracking," he said.

                                                                                                 'Emergency Declaration' follows a terrorist attack on an airplane. Courtesy of Showbox
A scene from the disaster film "Emergency Declaration" / Courtesy of Showbox

Han shared that the primary focus in filming the scenes was to make them as realistic as possible. The film comprises first-person point-of-view shots and scenes filmed on a gimbal set for action sequences and turbulence on the airplane.

"A large number of people get on an airplane. So there were many limitations to making the scenes realistic. The space between the seats was tight and it was hard for the actors playing passengers and the production crew to all get on the plane and film," he said. "So to portray a major catastrophic situation, we built a gimbal set. For authenticity, the cinematographer went onto the set and captured each character with a handheld camera."

Despite the film's much-anticipated release, it already is getting mixed responses from moviegoers. The director expressed that although he understands the split reactions, he hopes audiences will empathize with each character.

"I feel there can be different opinions from my own. There has been varied feedback ― some understood my intention while for others, I wondered how they got such an impression. For example, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, some people didn't really mind eating out, but others were scared of going to restaurants and would dine in," he said.

"'Emergency Declaration' also has characters that can be interpreted in different ways. So I do hope that these figures would come through as understandable through the film. I would like the film to lead the audiences to think 'it's possible to act like that,' instead of thinking 'why they would act like that?'"
Emailgyulee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
130 people purchased 8,000 homes: data 30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data
2Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlightScientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
3National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chiefNational Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief
4Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion
5Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea
6Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
7Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China
8S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China
9COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022 COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022
10Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse' BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'
2Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25 Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25
3Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman'
4BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
5[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group