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Two Korean movies, A Taxi Driver and 1987: When The Day Comes, have been gaining attention as an aftermath of the martial law imposed by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a brief duration on December 3, 2024.
According to BBC, South Korea is not foreign to martial law; the country has had martial law 16 times since the end of the Second World War in 1987. Henceforth, films such as A Taxi Driver and 1987: When The Day Comes have been coming to the surface to familiarise fans and Korean culture enthusiasts with the history of South Korea's martial law.
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The two movies underline the theme of pro-democracy demonstrations in South Korea during the period of Chun Doo-hwan, who led an oppressive military crackdown on pro-democratic processions.
A Taxi and 1987: When The Day Comes shed light on South Korea's long struggle for democracy
A Taxi and 1987: When The Day Comes is set in the period of 1980s under the presidentship of Chun Doo-hwan. Both movies deal with themes of the struggle for democracy in South Korea. While A Taxi presents a third-party perspective of Korea under an oppressive military regime, 1987: When The Day Comes narrates the life of students and ordinary citizens fighting for truth and justice.
1987: When The Day Comes was released in 2017 and is based on a true story about the June Democratic Uprising in South Korea, mainly the events that led up to it. The Uprising was a struggle for democracy led by college students that eventually led the ruling government to hold direct presidential elections and initiate other democratic reforms.
The June Uprising (as the movie also covers) was triggered by the death of a student protester during a brutal police interrogation. The movie showcases the authorities' conspiration to cover up the death and the citizens' determination to unearth the truth and demand justice.
The movie is directed by Jang Joon-hwan and written by Kim Kyung-chan. It features some of the renowned Korean celebrities such as Kim Tae-ri, Kim Yoon-seok, Yoo Hae-jin, and more.
Similarly, A Taxi Driver is a real-life story brought to the screen. It is about a tax driver who unintentionally gets involved in the Gwangju Uprising in 1980 as he tries to carry out his job. These were also student-led demonstrations against the dictatorial regime of Chun Doo-hwan. The Uprising had a strong influence on the United States (under Jimmy Carter) as it approved and provided logistical support to the South Korean military to violently suppress the protests.
A Taxi Driver was released in 2017 under the directorship of Jang Hoon. Written by Eom Yu-na, the movie stars Song Kang-ho in the main role. It also stars Yoo Hae-jin and Reply 1988's Ryu Jun-yeol.
Where to watch?
Both movies are available on various streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. However, on some platforms, they may be available in selected regions.
What happened in South Korea?
On December 3, late at night, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered martial law without a warning as he claimed to put an end to the perpetrators plotting against the country by being friendly with North Korea. He particularly accused the main opposition parties. Maintaining his hard-line approach to North Korea, without any evidence he proclaimed the neighbour to be a destabilizing force.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol held the presidency with a razor-thin majority of 0.8 percentage points. This resulted in a very unstable and tumulous Parliament with even national sentiments moving against Mr. Yoon. In short, Mr. Yoon is struggling politically.
Despite a barricade of Army troops outside Parliament, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly (190-0) against the emergency law. President Yoon Suk-yeol now faces an impeachment motion. Martial law places civil and political rights under military control, typically during war-like situations, suspending freedoms such as press freedom, the right to protest, and free speech.
For global Korean music and drama fans, martial law would have meant disruption and a complete cessation of music festivals, year-end music shows, and award shows.
