Podcasts > Rotten Mango > #340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

By Stephanie Soo & Ramble

Dive into a harrowing tale of abduction and forced creativity in the latest Rotten Mango podcast episode, where hosts Stephanie Soo and her co-host unpack the true story of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee, a filmmaker couple kidnapped by North Korea's regime. The episode meticulously details how the obsession of Kim Jong-il with the cinematic arts led to a series of events more gripping than fiction, placing the couple in a position to produce films under the dictator's oppressive vision - a quest for international cinematic recognition.

This Rotten Mango narrative goes beyond the screen, bringing to light the struggles and resilience of Eun-hee and Shin as they navigated imprisonment, indoctrination, and psychological warfare. The hosts delve into the couple's secret plotting for freedom, revealing how they turned a risky film festival trip into a daring escape to the American embassy in Vienna. Stephanie Soo and her co-host guide listeners through the twists and turns of this unbelievable survival story, climaxing in the couple's successful bid for asylum and a life beyond the shadow of North Korea's propaganda machine.

#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

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#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

1-Page Summary

Eun-hee and Shin's kidnapping by North Korea

The couple Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee were abducted by North Korea, orchestrated by Kim Jong-il, who was fixated on filmmaking. They were victims of manipulation and control, used as pawns to uplift North Korea's cinematic presence on the world stage. Kim Jong-il wanted Eun-hee to star in North Korean movies, enforcing his vision of realistic love stories similar to European films to achieve international acclaim. Meanwhile, Shin was welcomed with personal items and clothing to encourage him to utilize his directing expertise. The regime went to extreme lengths to retain control over them, highlighted by Eun-hee's attempted escape and subsequent drugging.

Eun-hee and Shin forced to make films in North Korea

Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee faced severe conditions, including imprisonment, torture, and indoctrination, following their abduction. They were forced to participate in the propagandistic praise of North Korea and endure stringent indoctrination rituals to internalize North Korean superiority narratives. However, they were given funding and some freedom to produce films intended to fulfill Kim Jong-il's cinematic ambitions and to slander South Korea. Despite the constraints and coercion, they produced seven films across various genres, fostering enjoyment and a better cultural understanding among North Korean civilians. Their movies introduced concepts of love and humanity, contrasting the government's propaganda films.

Eun-hee and Shin's escape from North Korea

The couple conducted secret recordings of Kim Jong-il to support their future plea for asylum and used this leverage to negotiate their safety. They meticulously planned their escape during a trip to Vienna for a film festival, ultimately seeking refuge at the American embassy. Successfully evading North Korean agents, Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee were granted asylum in the US, entering witness protection and sharing their experiences with the CIA. They managed to attain citizenship, effectively ending their harrowing journey since their kidnapping in North Korea.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Kim Jong-il, the former leader of North Korea, had a deep passion for filmmaking and saw it as a powerful tool for propaganda and influence. He exerted significant control over the North Korean film industry, using it to promote his regime's ideologies and image domestically and internationally. Kim Jong-il's interest in cinema led to the abduction of South Korean filmmakers Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee to enhance North Korea's cinematic reputation and further his personal ambitions. His involvement in the couple's abduction and subsequent forced filmmaking projects showcased his manipulation of the medium for political and personal gain.
  • Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee were subjected to intense manipulation and control by North Korea after their abduction. This included imprisonment, torture, and indoctrination to align with North Korean propaganda. They were coerced into producing films that served the regime's interests, showcasing the extent of control exerted over their creative output. The couple's escape and subsequent asylum marked the end of their ordeal under North Korea's manipulation and control.
  • The propaganda and indoctrination in North Korea aimed to enforce loyalty to the regime and its ideologies. This involved praising North Korea's leadership, promoting the country's superiority, and discrediting external influences, particularly South Korea. Individuals were subjected to intense ideological training, including the glorification of the ruling Kim family and the demonization of perceived enemies. The regime tightly controlled information and media to shape citizens' beliefs and behaviors in alignment with the government's narrative.
  • Vienna and the film festival played a crucial role in Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee's escape plan as it provided them with a rare opportunity to be away from their North Korean captors and have some freedom of movement. The couple used this chance to carefully orchestrate their escape without the constant surveillance they faced in North Korea. The film festival setting also allowed them to seek help from the American embassy, which ultimately led to their successful asylum in the United States.
  • Attaining asylum in the US involves proving a well-founded fear of persecution in one's home country due to factors like race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Witness protection programs provide security and new identities to individuals who have cooperated with law enforcement or faced threats due to their testimony against criminal activities. These programs aim to safeguard witnesses and their families from potential harm or retaliation, ensuring their safety while assisting in ongoing investigations or legal proceedings. The process of entering witness protection typically involves extensive vetting, relocation, and ongoing support to maintain the safety and anonymity of participants.

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#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

Eun-hee and Shin's kidnapping by North Korea

Stephanie Soo details the harrowing tale of famous South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his ex-wife, actress Choi Eun-hee, who were both kidnapped by North Korea.

Kim Jong-il's obsession with filmmaking

Without explicit mention in the provided content, one can infer that North Korea’s then-future leader Kim Jong-il's involvement in the couple's abduction was tied to his fascination with filmmaking and his aspiration to elevate the North Korean film industry to international stanards.

His belief that foreign movies depicted real events

His goal to produce world-class films in North Korea

While there is no specific information given about Kim Jong-il's belief regarding the depiction of real events in foreign films, the North Korean regime's actions towards Shin and Choi suggest a deep-seated desire to bolster the country's film production capabilities. Stephanie Soo explains that Kim Jong-il aspired to create movies equivalent to American standards, hinting at his aim to produce world-class films.

Kim Jong-il expressed his wish for Eun-hee, a top South Korean actress, to star in North Korean movies, which implied that she had no choice in the matter. This underscores his efforts to utilize foreign talent to achieve his goal of international film recognition. Moreover, he liked the idea of movies about regular love because it matched his vision of aligning with European movies and gaining international acclaim.

Shin Sang-ok, after his abduction, was taken to North Korea and found his house stocked with his favorite items and clothing tailored to his size, indicating a calculated move by Kim Jong-il to make Shin feel compelled to con ...

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Eun-hee and Shin's kidnapping by North Korea

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a reclusive country led by the Kim dynasty. Kim Jong-il, the son of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung, ruled the country from 1994 to 2011. During his leadership, Kim Jong-il focused on maintaining tight control over the country and promoting propaganda to bolster his regime's authority. His interest in filmmaking was part of his broader strategy to use cultural influence to strengthen his grip on power and project an image of North Korea to the world.
  • Kim Jong-il's fascination with filmmaking led to the abduction of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee as he aimed to elevate North Korean cinema to international standards by utilizing the couple's talents. Kim Jong-il saw the potential in leveraging the couple's expertise to enhance North Korea's film industry and achieve his vision of producing world-class movies. The abduction was a strategic move to control and manipulate the couple into contributing to Kim Jong-il's cinematic ambitions. This connection highlights the extreme measures Kim Jong-il took to fulfill his aspirations for North Korean cinema.
  • Kim Jong-il's desire to produce world-class films in North Korea was driven by his aspiration to elevate the country's cultural influence on the global stage through cinema. This ambition reflected his belief in the power of film as a tool for propaganda and international recognition. By aiming to match American standards and utilize foreign talent like Choi Eun-hee, Kim Jong-il sought to enhance North Korea's image and prestige in the realm of filmmaking. His meticulous efforts to control and manipulate Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee demonstrated the extreme measu ...

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#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

Eun-hee and Shin forced to make films in North Korea

Eun-hee and Shin, prominent figures in the South Korean film industry, endured a harrowing ordeal when they were abducted and forced to make films in North Korea under the regime of Kim Jong-il.

The harsh conditions they endured

Imprisonment and torture

The couple faced severe conditions during their captivity. Director Shin was imprisoned for two years after an escape attempt, enduring torture including being handcuffed to a railing in an uncomfortable position, leading to sleep deprivation and loss of bodily functions. He was forced to carve "Shin Sang-ok died here" into his cell wall, believing he would never be released. Other prisoners experienced similar ordeals, such as digging their own graves.

Indoctrination attempts

Shin and Eun-hee were also subjected to relentless indoctrination. They were taken to visit sites like a log cabin where Kim Jong-un was rumored to have been born and were expected to internalize and affirm the narrative provided to them. They encountered propaganda in the form of false depictions of American brutality and sham newspaper articles praising the Kim dynasty. They were forced to read extensively, sing songs exalting the Kims, and write adulatory letters to the family, all part of a campaign to convince them that South Korea was suffering while North Korea was superior.

Their assignment to make films for Kim Jong-il

Though the couple was under duress and constrained by the conditions imposed upon them, they were given a substantial budget and a measure of creative freedom to produce films in North Korea.

Under coercion, Shin and Eun-hee worked on movies that were initially intended to serve Kim Il-sung's birthday celebrations and slander South Korea. However, they aspired to utilize their platform to make movies for the North Korean people, aiming to introduce themes of love and humanity absent from the country's typical propaganda-laden filmography.

They were affo ...

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Eun-hee and Shin forced to make films in North Korea

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Kim Jong-il was the leader of North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011. His regime was known for its oppressive control over the country, including strict censorship, propaganda, and human rights abuses. North Korea under Kim Jong-il was isolated from the rest of the world, with a cult of personality around the ruling Kim family.
  • Shin and Eun-hee were subjected to intense indoctrination in North Korea, involving visits to significant sites, exposure to propaganda, and tasks like reading, singing, and writing to praise the regime. They were immersed in a controlled environment that aimed to shape their beliefs and loyalty towards the North Korean leadership. This indoctrination was a systematic effort to mold their thoughts and perceptions in line with the regime's ideology, emphasizing the superiority of North Korea over South Korea. The couple faced constant pressure to conform to the regime's narrative and ideals, reinforcing the regime's control over their minds and actions.
  • In North Korea, filmmakers Shin and Eun-hee were coerced to create films for the regim ...

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#340: A-List Movie Star KIDNAPPED By North Korea- then Forced To Make Movies For Kim Jung Il

Eun-hee and Shin's escape from North Korea

Stephanie Soo details the harrowing escape of director Shin Sang-ok and actress Choi Eun-hee from North Korea, shedding light on their secret taping of Kim Jong-il and their eventual asylum in the United States.

Their secret taping of Kim Jong-il

Soo explains that in order to seek asylum, Shin and Eun-hee needed proof of their kidnapping by North Korea, which they aimed to obtain by recording Kim Jong-il's voice. They meticulously rehearsed starting a tape recorder without arousing suspicion and ultimately planned to capture Kim Jong-il's voice during a dinner. The recordings were necessary because both intelligence agencies and the North Korean public had never heard Kim Jong-il's voice. They intended to use the tapes as an insurance plan, valuable to agencies with the power to grant asylum.

Kim Jong-il, unaware of Shin and Eun-hee's intentions, had all his conversations recorded, resulting in a misconception that someone on his side leaked tapes, implying Eun-hee and Shin were loyal to him. However, not all audio was released; some recordings are believed to be held by the CIA, with only transcripts made available.

The couple handed over tapes and photographs to a friend who was instructed to release them to the Japanese and Korean news media if they didn’t hear from Shin and Eun-hee in six months.

Their escape during a film festival trip

Shin and Eun-hee planned their escape while allowed to travel to Europe for film work, despite being surrounded by guards. They searched for the perfect moment to flee and needed to convince everyone they were not being held against their will, as part ...

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Eun-hee and Shin's escape from North Korea

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Shin Sang-ok was a prominent South Korean film director, and Choi Eun-hee was a well-known actress. They were both abducted by North Korea in the late 1970s under the orders of Kim Jong-il, who was a film enthusiast. While in North Korea, they were forced to make films for the regime, and their escape involved elaborate planning and risky maneuvers.
  • Shin and Eun-hee secretly recorded Kim Jong-il's voice by discreetly starting a tape recorder during a dinner conversation. They rehearsed this action meticulously to avoid suspicion and capture the needed evidence for their asylum case. The recordings were a crucial part of their plan to prove their kidnapping by North Korea and secure assistance from intelligence agencies. The couple's careful planning and execution during the dinner allowed them to obtain the valuable recordings without raising any alarms.
  • Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee alleged that Kim Jong-il attempted to assassinate them after their escape from North Korea. This alleged assassination attempt led to Shin and Eun-hee entering witness protection for a period of time. They were eventually granted citizenship and asylum in the United States in exchange for sharing information with the CIA about their experiences in North Korea.
  • Entering witness protection ...

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