12.12: The Day

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12.12: The Day
Promotional poster
Hangul
서울의 봄
Literal meaningSpring in Seoul
Revised RomanizationSeoul-ui bom
Directed byKim Sung-su
Screenplay by
  • Hong In-pyo
  • Hong Won-Chan
  • Lee Young-jong
  • Kim Sung-su
Produced byKim Won-kuk
Starring
CinematographyLee Mo-gae
Edited byKim Sang-beom
Music byLee Jae-jin
Production
company
Hive Media Corp.
Distributed byMegabox Plus M
Release date
  • November 22, 2023 (2023-11-22)
Running time
141 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Budget₩23 billion[1]
(~US$18 million)[2]
Box officeUS$97.5 million[3][4]

12.12: The Day (Korean: 서울의 봄) is a 2023 South Korean historical action drama film directed by Kim Sung-su, starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon and Kim Sung-kyun.[5] The film is set against the backdrop of the December 12, 1979, military coup from the late 1970s to early 1980s.[6] It was released theatrically on November 22, 2023, and became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023,[5][7] earning over $97 million against a budget of about $18 million.[3][2]

In the film, similar pseudonyms are used instead of the real persons' names and, although it is based on real events, there are also fictional elements.[8][9][10]

Synopsis[edit]

After President Park's assassination, martial law is declared. Security commander Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min) and the officers who follow him stage a coup. Lee Tae-shin (Jung Woo-sung), a stubborn commander of the Capital Garrison Command who believes that soldiers should not take political action, fights against Chun Doo-gwang. As the conflict between the two men grows, the military leaders postpone their decisions, and the Minister of Defense disappears. In this chaos, spring in Seoul, which everyone longs for, heads in an unexpected direction.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Supporting[edit]

  • Kim Eui-sung as Oh Guk-sang: based on Roh Jae-hyun, who served as the 21st Minister of National Defense
  • Jung Dong-hwan as President Choi Han-gyu: based on Choi Kyu-hah, the 4th President of South Korea
  • Ahn Nae-sang as Lieutenant General Han Young-gu: based on Hwang Young-si [ko], 1st Corps Commander
  • Choi Byung-mo as Brigadier General Do Hee-cheol: based on Park Hee-do, 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade Commander
  • Park Hoon as Colonel Moon Il-pyeong: based on Heo Hwa-pyeong [ko], one of Chun Doo-hwan's closest associates
  • Lee Jae-yoon as Lieutenant Colonel Lim Hak-ju: based on Lee Hak-bong [ko], who investigated Jeong Seung-hwa during the revolt
  • Kim Sung-oh as Brigadier General Kim Chang-se: based on Choi Se-chang [ko], 3rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade Commander
  • Park Won-sang as Lieutenant General Go Jae-young: based on Lee Kun-young [ko], Commander of the 3rd Field Army
  • Nam Yun-Ho as Colonel Kang Dong-Chan, subordinate to Major General Lee Tae-shin and Brigade Commander in the Capital Garrison Command
  • Yoo Seong-joo as Lieutenant General Min Seong-bae, Vice Chief of Staff who takes command after Jeong Sang-ho is kidnapped.[11]
  • Hong Seo-jun as Ha Chang-soo, a personnel officer at the security agency.[11]
  • Ahn Se-ho as Jang Min-ki[11]
  • Jeon Su-ji as Lee Tae-shin's wife
  • Paul Battle as U.S. Ambassador to Korea

Special appearance[edit]

Production[edit]

Principal photography began in February 2022 and ended in July 2022.[14]

Director Kim Sung-su revealed at the press conference that he was a senior in high school at the time of the Coup d'état of December Twelfth and was living in Hannam-dong, Seoul, where the incident occurred. He left his house and was walking around the neighborhood, and when he heard a gunshot from the Army Chief of Staff's official residence, he went there, but the soldiers controlled it. He was scared because he heard gunshots all night and he couldn't get close, but he was full of curiosity and questions at the time because he couldn't figure out what was going on,[15] which led him to make this film.[8]

The Headquarter of Korean Army is shot at Headquarter of Kyungpook National University in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province.

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

As of December 3, 2023, 12.12: The Day has grossed $34.2 million with a running total of 4.66 million tickets sold so far.[16] It became the biggest film of 2023 in Korea, when it grossed $90.5 million by end of December 2023.[7] By the end of February 2024, the film grossed over $97 million.[3]

Public response[edit]

This work is set about 40 years ago, but surprisingly, it was watched more by young people (20s and 30s) than middle-aged people (40s and 50s).[17] There was even a heart rate challenge among them, where people would check their heart rate using their smartwatches while watching the movie, then take a picture of it and upload it on social media to express heightened stress or righteous anger while watching the film.[18][19]

As this film became popular, people became interested in other works, such as 5th Republic,[20] which dealt with the Coup d'état of December Twelfth.[21]

Accolades[edit]

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2024 Best Film 12.12: The Day Pending [22]
Best Director Kim Sung-su Pending
Best Actor Jung Woo-sung Pending
Hwang Jung-min Pending
Best Screenplay Hong In-pyo, Hong Won-chan, Lee Young-jong, Kim Sung-su Pending
Technical Award Hwang Ho-kyun (SFX makeup) Pending
Lee Mo-gae (Cinematography) Pending

Related history[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kim, Da-sol (December 15, 2023). "'12.12: The Day' lifts November ticket sales in cinemas overall: KOFIC". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lee, H. (November 24, 2023). "Jung Woo Sung and Hwang Jung Min's '12.12: The Day' Highly Praised by Both Critics and Audiences". ZAPZEE. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "12.12: The Day". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: 12.12: THE DAY (2023)". KOFIC. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Ha-neul (October 16, 2023). "황정민·정우성 '서울의 봄', 12·12 군사 반란 속 일촉즉발 상황...11월 22일 개봉" [Hwang Jeong-min and Jung Woo-sung's '12.12: The Day', a close call amid the 12/12 military rebellion... Released on November 22nd] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved October 16, 2023 – via Naver.
  6. ^ "[영화는실화다] 영화 '서울의 봄'_ 12·12 군사 반란" [[The movie is a true story] Movie '12.12: The Day'_ December 12 Military Uprising]. YTN (in Korean). November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. ^ a b Shackleton, Liz (January 3, 2024). "Korean Action Drama '12.12: The Day' Grosses $90M At Local Box Office To Become Biggest Film Of 2023". Deadline. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Director Kim Sung-su blends fact with fiction to recreate 1979 coup d'état". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
  9. ^ "Korea Box Office: '12.12: The Day' Brings Crowds Back to Cinemas". Variety. November 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "The harrowing real-life stories of the Korean military coup depicted in "12.12: The Day"". English Edition: The Hankyoreh. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c 고, 승아. "'서울의 봄' 김의성→안내상, 긴박했던 12.12 호연으로 완성". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Kang, Hyo-jin (November 6, 2023). "서울의 봄' 정해인, 초고속 진급...일병→소령 변신 '찰떡같은 군복 핏" [Spring in Seoul's Jung Hae-in gets promoted super-fast...from private to major, 'military uniform fits perfectly] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Choi, Ji-ye (November 11, 2023). "특별출연 빛난다...'대세' 이준혁·정해인, '서울의 봄' 존재감甲 신스틸러 [TEN피플]" [Special Appearance Shines...'Dae Se' Lee Jun Hyuk-Jung Hae In, 'Seoul Spring' Presence Kwon Shin Stiller [TEN People]] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Naver.
  14. ^ "'서울의 봄' 김성수 감독 "연출 제안받고 '이게 나한테? 운명이다' 싶었다" [인터뷰①]" ['12.12: The Day' Director Kim Seong-soo "When I received the offer to direct, I thought, 'This is for me? It's fate.'" [Interview ①]]. Chosun Biz (in Korean). November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "[이원 기자의 영화 人 a view] '서울의 봄' 김성수 감독" [[Reporter Won Lee's film People a View] '12.12: The Day' Director Kim Seong-soo]. Kookje Shinmun (in Korean). November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
  16. ^ Frater, Patrick (2023). "Korea Box Office: Political Thriller '12.12: The Day' Enjoys $13 Million Second Weekend Haul". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  17. ^ "[파고들기]MZ는 왜 '서울의 봄' 전두광에 분노할까" [[Dig into] Why is MZ angry at Jeon Doo-gwang for '12.12: The Day'?]. No Cut News (in Korean). November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
  18. ^ "'12.12: The Day' hits 4M moviegoers in 12 days". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  19. ^ ""내 심박수 봄?" ...영화 서울의봄 SNS 챌린지 열풍" ["Do you see my heart rate?" ...Film 12.12: The Day SNS Challenge Craze]. Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
  20. ^ "12·12 다룬 '서울의 봄'과 '제5공화국' ...뭐가 같고 뭐가 다른가" ['12.12: The Day' and '5th Republic', both of which were covered on Coup d'état of December Twelfth... What's the same and what's different?]. Ilyo Shinmun (in Korean). November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "'남산의부장' OTT순위 재진입... '서울의봄' 인기에 근현대사 콘텐츠 열풍" ['The Man Standing Next' re-enters OTT rankings... Modern and contemporary history content craze due to popularity of '12.12: The Day']. Sports DongA (in Korean). November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
  22. ^ Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.

External links[edit]

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