Do Not Cross the River to release nationwide on November 25

Directed by Han Jeong-guk, the feature film 'Do Not Cross the River' will be released in theaters nationwide on November 25. The 103-minute drama, which has won four international film awards, follows a North Korean defector youth finding hope in South Korean society.

The feature film 'Do Not Cross the River', directed by Han Jeong-guk, a professor at the Chungkang College of Cultural Industries Performing Arts School, and supported by the university, held a press screening and press conference at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall Theater 16 in Seoul on November 10.

Attendees at the press screening included Professor and director Han Jeong-guk, Professor and actor Lee Dong-jae, and actors Yoon Je-in, Lee Ji-seok, and Lee Yu-gyeong, who are graduates of the Theater and Film Acting major. They shared insights regarding the film's planning intentions, the production process, and the filming site.

'Do Not Cross the River' depicts the process of Seon-hwa, a North Korean defector youth left alone after losing her family, finding hope in life through meeting a new family in the unfamiliar South Korean society. Inspired by the ancient Korean song 'Song of Do Not Cross the River' and the true story of an unaccompanied North Korean defector youth, the film addresses themes of diaspora, family, and the lives of marginalized youth.

Director Han Jeong-guk was responsible for the film's planning, production, screenwriting, directing, and editing. Cinematographer Jeong Yong-hyeon, who participated in films such as 'Ten Months' and 'Confession of Murder', handled the cinematography. To enhance the realism of the work, the production team received consultations on North Korean dialects, the characters' living environments, and the settlement process from Chae Cheong-gyeong of Hanawon and Director Oh Jin-ha of the Inter-Korean Integrated Cultural Center.

“Starting from the 'Song of Do Not Cross the River' and the true story of an unaccompanied North Korean defector youth, I wanted to reflect together on how our society views marginalized youth,” said Director Han Jeong-guk. “I focused on sincerely capturing the characters' lives and emotions without exhibiting the suffering of the subjects.”

The film was produced based on a video production class at the Chungkang College of Cultural Industries Performing Arts School in 2023. Antenna Studio handled the production, with the university supporting the production process, and current students and graduates of the Performing Arts School participated as actors and crew. In addition to acting, participating students took on various production roles on set, experiencing the entire process from the planning of the feature film to filming and post-production.

Professor and acting coach Lee Dong-jae stated, “The actors and staff divided roles and cooperated to complete the work. It was a time for students to apply what they learned at school to a feature film production site and experience the entire process of completing a single work.”

'Do Not Cross the River' has won four international film awards, including the Grand Prize at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, Best Film at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Best Independent Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Best Film at the Tokyo Women's Film Festival.

“In 2023, while the aftermath of COVID-19 remained, I decided to produce the work I had been preparing for as a feature film with my students during a production class,” said Professor and director Han Jeong-guk. “I was able to take this first step thanks to the support of the university, which believed in new attempts and opened production opportunities. I am grateful to the students, actors, crew, and university officials who joined the work.”

Under the motto "The school is the theater," the Performing Arts School at Chungkang College of Cultural Industries links performance and video production with its curriculum. The school supports students in building practical skills in the performance and video fields by allowing them to experience production systems close to actual production environments.

Meanwhile, 'Do Not Cross the River' is a 103-minute drama starring Yoon Je-in, Lee Ji-seok, and Hong Seong-jun, rated for viewers aged 15 and older. It will be released in theaters nationwide on November 25.

Read the original (Korean)