Original subtitles

I was captured and sent to the Nakdong river front line as a civilian militia.

The UN forces retreated following Japan's retaliation

and I miraculously escaped to a small village near Gaya Mountain.

I was starving and suffering from a severe case of malaria.

Days passed and finally I lost all consciousness.

Mr. Jang saved my life.

He was poor, but he sheltered me, a runaway soldier.

To me, he was a living angel.

His daughter was blind, but a kind-hearted girl.

Thanks to her care, I eventually recovered

and applied for the special forces unit.

Luckily, I was dispatched to my hometown of Gilsotteum

in the year 1952.

He passed away on November 7th last year.

Hwa-yeong gave birth to a baby boy.

She did?

Yes. Your father named the boy according to family tradition.

Seong' for wise person and 'Wun' for cloud.

Where is Hwa-yeong right now?

The Communist Chinese Army are on their way, so we sent her down south.

Where in the south?

She left in search of you.

It was a miracle that I survived five gun-shot wounds.

I intended to go to Gilsotteum,

but the front line was deadlocked, so I headed to Chuncheon.

By chance, I ran into my old music teacher.

He was a civilian employee of the U.S. forces.

Thank you, sir. You help me out everytime.

Could you go to Seoul tomorrow?

There's an army truck headed to Seoul.

I'll get you on it if you deliver this letter on my behalf.

I should go myself but I don't have time.

Feed him if he starts to fret, ma'am.

The rest, you and your family can finish.

Don't worry about us. I'll see you, soon.

Take care of him, ma'am.

Unaware that my music teacher was a high-ranking spy,

I was arrested for espionage while running his errands.

It was a turbulent time, and I could've been executed.

However, the investigator took pity on me

so I got seven out of ten years in prison instead.

I had no idea. I'd searched in all the wrong places.

I followed drug peddlers and wandered through

the markets in Busan as well as Namdaemun market in Seoul.

I went everywhere.

One day, I heard the news that Mr. Jang had passed away.

Wanted

Again, I had no choice but to head to Dongchon village.

Dong-jin, she's blind and uneducated.

She has nothing but her good heart.

If you promise to take care of my poor daughter,

I shall never forget your kindness.

She was a good girl, but I didn't love her.

The reason why I married her

wasn't so much to pay Mr. Jang back for saving my life,

but more because I wanted to ease my own conscience.

I chose a woman far beneath you on so many levels

as a way of repenting for what I've done to you

and to forever erase any trace of you from my heart.

I was in so much agony at the time.

But all my efforts proved to be futile.

I've spent the last 20 years with the woman,

but I've always felt like there was something missing.

After spending those agonizing years in prison,

I returned to Chuncheon in 1960 in search of my son.

Excuse me.

Are you looking for somebody?

Hwa-yeong, is that you?

It was hard to make ends meet at the time.

Just happened that a distillery in Soyang-dong

wanted him as their foster son.

I thought at least the kid wouldn't starve and sent him.

But that couple abused the child so badly.

He couldn't stand it and ran away from home.

A couple of years later, I saw him with a pack of beggars.

I felt so bad for him that I took him in, fed him and put him to bed.

But he left in search of you. Never heard from him since.

Later, I heard rumors that he was taken away in a U.S. Army tank.

That's the last I heard of him.

What do you want to do?

Will you go to Chuncheon tomorrow? I'd like to come with you.

Then, let's go together.

See you tomorrow. Here, at nine.

Let's do that.

I'd like to chat with you some more if that's okay.

I'll buy you a drink.

Why did you think I was dead?

When I was working as a cafe girl in Namdaemun market,

I ran into Captain Jang from CID who had interrogated me for espionage.

I asked him to find out your whereabouts.

Is there no way we can find him?

There's a man who was in the special forces with him.

So I met with him.

He said your friend died while in battle.

I'm sorry to have to pass on the terrible news.

Would this Captain Jang be your husband?

We lived together for 3 years before splitting.

I went around borrowing money for his business.

When he went bankrupt and ultimately disappeared,

I was left with a pile of debt.

I think we should go.

- How much? - 7,600 won.

I don't think I've seen such a beautiful moon in the city.

Reminds me of the moon in Gilsotteum.

Do you have a place to stay?

Yes. My sister-in-law's house. In Yeongdong.

Get home safely.

I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.

Honey, your father's back.

Dad, you're late tonight. Seong-min, dad's home.

Hey, dad.

Hi, father.

- You're drunk. - I met an old friend from home.

Why do you do this? You're slowly killing yourself.

Korea, a small country in the Far East.

The country's long history is one of endless invasions.

The 36-year Japanese occupation is just one example.

Historically,

since the dawn of the nation,

Korea has been subject to harrassment by foreign powers.

Not only has Korea been the bridge for foreign maritime powers

to cross over to the Asian continent,

but has served as the bridge for Japan

and continental powers with access to the five seas.

Korea's disadvantageous geopolitical location

has forced it to serve as a buffer zone

and the arena of endless struggle among world powers.

Gaining independent sovereignty, therefore, was impossible for Korea.

After political talks with war victors who defeated Japan,

the 38th parallel was unjustly drawn with the termination of World War 2.

The move did not simply split the nation in half, but its people as well.

10 million people were torn from their loved ones

and even today, the war wounds are still fresh,

affecting millions of people who suffer from aftereffects.

For 33 years along the 155-mile truce line, the two Koreas have...

You met an old hometown friend?

Yes.

Who is that friend?

Just someone who lived close to me.

That woman...

It's that woman, isnt' it?

What woman?

The very woman you pined for even after our third child came.

No matter how hungry we were,

the little money that you earned

you spent it on newspaper ads searching for her.

I did meet that woman.

Congratulations.

Has she been celibate all this time waiting for you?

You're full of nonsense.

What woman does that in this day and age?

I would like to meet her, too.

I want to know what it is about her that made you risk your life

to search for her and to get shot willingly by multiple bullets.

That's enough.

I want you to wake up.

Your body is in no state to handle all this rubbish.

I'm scared our children will find out.

Don't you remember my long-dead cousin?

During the war, he served as a Communist partisan member and got shot,

Served 20 years in prison before he was set free.

Cancer formed around

the bullet wound from the war and he died from it.

My cousin also was diabetic like you before he got cancer.

Even today, I am haunted by the bullets still stuck in your body.

Honey.

Could we please go see a doctor about it?

Sunny skies are forecast for Gyeongsang and Jeolla regions,

but Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions

may see some rain showers throughout the day.

That's the latest update on today's weather.

We will now connect to KBS

where the live coverage of the family reunions is taking place.

This is the live hall at the main KBS building.

People from all over the country continue to gather

in search of their lost family members and the live hall is once again filled to capacity.

Let's take a look at some more stories of lost families.

We will start with number 32452.

Lim Jeong-shil is looking for her younger cousin...

Want some gum?

I'm diabetic.

Does your family know that you're doing this?

What if this young man really is our son?

I haven't thought that far.

Regardless of how it happened,

the thought that I'd abandoned my child has haunted me my whole life.

I watched the TV for days and still couldn't make a decision.

My husband was the one who urged me to. So, here I am.

Mother said Seong-wun was the eldest grandson to carry the family name

and begged me to find him. I couldn't sleep last night.

Um, where is Jicheon-ri?

You've passed it. Go back.

Thank you.

Hey, kid! You're wasting all the matches.

Put it back right now!

- Where is your mother? - Sleeping.

I ask her to catch some worms and she's sleeping?

Nobody looks for them anymore. People want paste bait.

Excuse me. Does Maeng Seok-cheol live here?

Yes, he does.

We saw you on TV.

You saw me on TV?

Goodness, are you searching for your lost son?

We had nowhere to sleep so we came down after five days

but you've found us!

- It's not fancy, but come in. - Shut up!

So, exactly who are you?

I heard you have double vortex hair. Could you show me?

Show her.

I also once lost a son in Chuncheon.

He also had double vortex hair.

Please show us. I'm Kim Dong-jin, the father.

See, he does have the trait, right?

Yes.

Could you show me your chest?

My son had a well chest.

What do you mean?

The middle of his chest was unusually dented.

But, that could have disappeared! He's all grown up, now.

It could disappear.

To me, he looks just like you. I'm sure he's your son.

I told you to be butt out!

Not every man with a beard is your gramps!

Do you remember where you lived as a child?

It's changed. I don't recognize this place.

We used to live where Inseong Hospital is. Remember?

You nearly drowned in a well. Do you remember?

I don't remember.

How about this place?

We came here to get bark to use as firewood.

I don't know.

I do remember the Army base behind us.

It used to be a U.S. Army base.

When I was seven, I was so hungry I ran away from the orphanage.

The base took me in and fed me.

I heard at the station that with some blood test at a big hospital,

they can determine if people are related or not.

That's how some people found their family.

Why don't we do that tomorrow?

Open the trunk!

Throw that away! You're not getting in my car with it!

- Throw it out! - What's wrong with you?

Throw it away! Now!

Wait, one second.

- We ran over a live animal. - Get rid of that thing!

- Do you know how lucky we are? - We should take it to its owner.

Do you know how good dog meat is for you?

- Get it away! - Just open the trunk!

Throw it away! Now!

Oh, man...

- Hello. - Hello, kids.

Come on in. You must be hungry.

You're all here! Come on in.

Let's go in! Come on!

You're such an idiot.

You could've just said, "Yes! I did live there!"

or "Yes, I do remember!" Your whole life could have changed.

Shut up and go get some shrimp sauce.

Where would I get that?

Salt is just fine. The meat will taste just as good.

Mommy, the lady says we have no more credit.

What?

Tell the shop owner that we need drinks for our parents we haven't seen in 30 years!

Useless child!

Eat it whilst it's still hot.

He caught the pig and brought some meat home.

He's worked in a slaughterhouse, cleaned corpses,

basically all kinds of rough work that's out there.

He's never really learned any useful skills.

If he had, he could've at least become a barber or a carpenter.

He's too good-natured and naive.

He slaves away and the little money he earns

he's never satisfied with so he quits every time.

Stop yapping and get some more drinks.

Alright.

Tell the shop that we'll pay our tab after summer.

It could turn out to be a great year. What's a tab?

The world is a heartless place.

You save someone drowning while bathing in the river

and they give you nothing but they pay you for salvaging a dead body.

So, I make sure they drown and properly sink.

Then, when the family comes and cry and beg

I set out to fetch the dead body.

If I fish out the corpse right away, the reward is small.

So, I dive under water for a few hours looking

then even the stingiest person will pay up a small fortune.

Order of Military Merit I got during the Vietnam War.

I'd been in and out of juvenile centers

and applied for the Marine Corps when I was 18.

They sent me to the front line in Vietnam.

There, I killed as many Viet Congs to death as possible.

I blamed the Communists

for my miserable, cursed life.

But, on second thought,

I realized I despised my mother more than the Communist enemies.

So, everytime I shot a Viet Cong, I thought of my mother.

However, no matter how many I killed, she was still alive in my head.

Again and again, she tormented me.

Those were the days.

I got my medal, got a special leave and had stack of cash in my pocket.

Walking around downtown Saigon, prostitutes would gather like flies.

Not knowing how long I'd last on the battlefield,

I went crazy and slept around with all of them.

Nosebleed and all, so to speak.

Ha! Well done!

You moron, are you proud of yourself?

What good is spreading your seed if you can't even feed them?

Just kill me!

Help!

Kill me!

I take in a poor, abused servant girl

and feed her and she yet she still complains.

I'm going to crush that mouth of yours.

Why aren't you in bed?

I told you to go sleep at Pal-seon's house.

Move it!

This one's pure breed. He's definitely mine.

Blood-ties is one thing that you cannot hide.

You know what?

I have no idea who the father of the older one is.

Hey! Did you lay out the blankets?

Yes, it's ready.

You must be tired. Go in and rest up.

Come on in.

I'll sleep in the car.

That's enough.

Father.

I've always wished that even just once

I had a father and mother to call my own.

Even dogs have names and cows and pigs

have mothers who gave them birth.

Here I am, a human being, not knowing who my folks are.

I'm worse off than some farm animal.

I understand perfectly well.

What is the name of the son you're looking for?

Kim Seong-wun.

Metal 'Kim', wise-man 'Seong' and cloud 'Wun'.

The name, 'Seong', has been given to us by our grandfather.

Family surname is Geumneung Kim, from the Sukjeonggong clan.

My son is the 12th succeeding grandson of the Kim family.

Our head ancestor's name was home 'Wu', sow 'Shik'.

He was a Daejehak, a high-ranking official for Hongmungwan.

After him, there were a string of scholars and court officials.

My grandfather's name was shining 'Byeong' and water 'Su'.

The common syllable in his generation was 'Byeong'.

My name is dawn 'Dong', truth 'Jin', with 'Jin' being the common syllable.

From my great-grandfather's generation to mine, only three have seen sons.

My hometown is Gilsotteum in Yeonbaek, Hwanghae Province.

Before the Korean War, it was a part of the south,

but following the truce, it belongs to the north.

My old lone mother still lives and I can't go visit her.

All this nonsense!

Germany paid the price for World War 2 by having its country split in half.

What did we ever do to deserve this nonsense?

All we ever did was to be born into this powerless country.

Blessed are those who're born into powerful countries.

You have a caller from Busan.

Hello? It's me.

- Is that you? Where are you? - I'm in Chuncheon.

- So, what happened? Did you meet him? - Yes.

Is he your son?

I'm not sure, yet.

We're going to the hospital tomorrow for blood tests.

Whatever means it takes, if he is your son,

call me right away. I'll come and meet you.

- Kim Heung-gi? - Yes.

Seoul to Cheongju.

- Where are you from? - Gongju District.

And, where were you born? Birthplace.

- Where? - Nundari.

Then, your mother. Where did she die?

Mother died in Nundari while giving birth to my brother.

- How about your grandmother? - She died in Sancheonmyeon.

- Your grandfather? - He died in Nundari.

- Is he your son? - Yes.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Father!

One more question. We ran into each other in Daejon, once.

Yes.

You saw me and avoided me, right? Right?

- Yes. - It really is you.

I'm on my way to see you.

- Mr. Kim? - Father!

He's talking to you.

- Come over. - I'll be there.

When were you separated?

30 years ago, during the war. We lost contact...

- Mr. Kim? - Please come see me.

- Let's talk face to face. - My father was chased

by the puppet army during the war. On our own, we had to flee.

One more question. What did I do in Tancheon?

What?

- What was my job in Tancheon? - You had a bicycle shop.

Alright.

You're sure now?

How did you separate with your son?

Do you only have one son?

I had two, but one died and I just found my other one.

Well, this is a special occasion, indeed.

Why didn't you flee with your son at the time?

I was fighting the red guerillas with a gun back then

and I was too caught up in the war.

So, you had no idea about your family situation.

My wife died, my mother died.

I was with my boys

until I left to fight the guerillas so I had no idea.

The boys were eventually sent to an orphanage...

You truly have been through a lot, sir.

It's been a hard life.

So, you left to fight

and left your sons behind, and they couldn't find you.

I took a bath. Big day at the hospital and all.

Wait. What's that scar on your shoulder joint?

How did you get that?

I'm not sure.

Nobody told me how it happened

but I think I was hit by a U.S. Army tank as a kid.

I think the scar is from that accident.

You were hit by a tank?

It's nothing.

We're done. Next person, please.

Good.

Next, please.

Hurry.

Once confirmed, I'll put him down in the family register as my eldest son.

If that happens, my wife will become his mother.

Would you be okay with that?

I'm not sure how I'd feel...

- I'll be down in Busan, soon. - Alright.

Then, see you in three days.

- Hello? - Mom?

Sang-hee? Is everything okay?

When are you coming back? We're all worried about you.

I ask dad and all he does is smile.

What's going on?

- Mom, it's me! - Sang-cheol?

Yup! Mom, if you're not home by tomorrow,

I'm going to the TV station to search for you. Okay?

I'll be home in two days. Get dad on the phone.

- Mom! - Sang-eun!

I miss you so much. Where are you?

I thought you were in an accident. I've been worried sick.

- Honey? It's me. Where are you? - Mount Seorak.

- Mount Seorak? Why? - Just walking down memory lane.

Hello!

Do you remember me?

What are you staring out at? It's only the horizon.

I'm sick of it all. This cursed land.

You can't abandon your mother, just because she's a leper.

Thank you for that day.

If not for you, I'd have been in big trouble.

Here. I owe you this for drinks that night.

It's taken me a good week to earn this.

It's hard for a man to make a living in this country.

You're broke and you drink with bar hostesses?

I was lonely that night.

I haven't felt that way in ten years.

I had an arch enemy that I had to kill.

That became my life goal and I searched for him everywhere.

Ironically, I ran into him right here in Sokcho.

Did you kill him?

My father, a landlord, was accused of being reactionary

and died at the enemies' hands.

After the Korean army recaptured Seoul, my brother, a combat police, returned home

and killed the villager who'd killed our father the same way.

However, following the third battle of Seoul, tables were turned again.

This time, my brother and his entire family were killed by the left-wingers

including my wife who was pregnant at the time.

It was a tragic vicious cycle

brought on by the war that just dragged on.

After the armistice, I set out in search of my enemy.

The man I ran into in Sokcho was one of the attackers.

However, by that time, he had lost his mind

and was living a life worse than death.

Looking at him, I realized

that both the dead and the killer were unlucky people.

The division that caused such tragic carnage between brother and brother

had nothing to do with our will but was forced on us.

We were simply puppets who fought on behalf of the foreign powers.

So, I've decided to bury my sword deep in the ocean.

I've decided to embrace the tragic fate of this nation

because that's the only way we can overcome that fate.

Will you marry me?

- Was that a joke? - A guy can't joke anymore?

What have you ever done for this family?

Have you ever lived for your wife and kids?

You spend your whole life drinking

and now you want to bring home a complete stranger

and accept him as your eldest son?

Ask the children if you're making any sense.

I'm telling you right now, over my dead body.

I can't do it. I won't.

There she is! She's here!

Hello, ma'am!

Sorry for keeping you waiting.

We've conducted various tests with your blood samples.

The ABO, MNS, Rh-Hr and Kidd blood tests show

that there is no reason to deny that he is your son.

Also, saliva tests, earwax, PTC, nontaster tests

and fingerprint tests also show the same result.

We've also conducted lymphocyte tests.

Linear combination of various blood types are passed on genetically,

so this particular test is incredibly accurate.

Based on all the analyses,

I have no reason to deny that the three of you

are blood-related.

Then, you're sure that they are my biological parents?

I am quite positive.

Father! Mother! I've known all along.

I knew that you were my parents.

You said you had no reason to doubt the test results.

However, can other people with the same blood types as we do

also see similar test results?

Of course.

If those with the same genes or even blood types

had intercourse around the same time,

they could have given birth to a baby with your son's blood type.

However, that would be highly coincidental.

Could you 100% guarantee that he's my son?

Ma'am!

A human being is not an inanimate object.

Mathematical percentage should not be used on human beings.

If you put it that way, I have nothing to say.

But, please give us more reason not to doubt that he is our son.

This is my personal opinion.

However, even if you're not biologically related,

you can help lessen the pain of separation.

That bond is so important

to our existence and for the world we live in.

I've seen some parents still embrace someone as family,

even though they're not biologically related.

Only one in 20 million tests have shown to be

as accurate as yours.

Being humanitarian is all good, but I also want to be 100% sure that he's my son.

Personally, I have no faith in these test results

and I cannot accept what you've just said to me.

This is my address. Call me if you need anything.

Goodbye.

Good day.

Let's keep in touch.

A guy like me cannot afford the luxury of keeping in touch.

Let's go.

Come, on.

Some people find their lost family members through TV

but actually avoid contacting each other or meeting them in person.

We've seen people who do not want to reunite with their newfound family members.

This is the result of

years of long-term separation and different ideologies.

However, not matter what,

we cannot deny that we are one people.

We are of the same blood in this homogeneous nation.

The End.