hankyoreh

father of late Samsung factory worker Hwang Yu-mi (center)

By Park Su-ji and Lee You Ju-hyun, staff reporters

It was opening day but not a single poster was hanging in the theater. On Feb. 6, many other film posters were displayed in the CGV theater in Seoul’s Guro district, but none for ‘Another Family.’ But even in the morning, many viewers were already there to watch the film, which has had troubles being produced and shown. More than 80% of seats for the 9:50 am showing had been sold for the premiere.

‘Another Family’ is based on the true story of Hwang Yu-mi who at the age of 23 died of leukemia while working at a Samsung semiconductor factory.

20 seats were taken by those who have fought for Hwang Yu-mi: her father, Hwang Sang-ki, Institute for Peace director Baek Ki-wan, former Justice Party lawmaker Noh Hoi-chan, Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Ha-na, MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society labor committee chair Kim Sung-hwan and more.

Hwang Sang-ki, the father who is named Sang-gu and played by actor Park Chul-min in the film, burst into laughter when his daughter drained a glass of soju in one go in a scene where the father pours his daughter a drink after she gets her job at the Samsung factory. Later, Mr. Hwang’s eyes swelled with tears during a scene where his daughter passed away on the road returning to her hometown, Sokcho with her father driving his taxi and his daughter seated in the back.

After watching the film Mr. Hwang said, “Yu-mi was gasping for breath when I was driving along the highway, so I pulled over and opened the door. But she wasn’t breathing anymore. That scene was especially heartbreaking for me.”

When he was watching the film, Mr. Hwang had a small paper bag with him, which was full of the pictures of the boy band Shinhwa. Mr. Hwang said with a smile, “I brought some of Yu-mi’s possessions so that it feels like I am watching the film with her. Yu-mi loved them. I hope Shinhwa fans will enjoy the film with us.”

Lee Jong-ran, a labor attorney who supports former Samsung workers suffering from rare diseases including leukemia, is in the movie as a character named Nan-joo, played by actor Kim Gyu-ri. Lee said, “The appeals trial has been going on for three years now, but since we won the first trial, we are expecting a good outcome.”

Jang Ha-na, a lawmaker who watched the film said, “The line performed by one of the factory HR managers in the film, ‘politics is a facade whereas economy is the essence’ was impressive. It was hard to deny.” She added, “I’ve realized that it is difficult to have entrepreneurs testify in parliament. The line seemed to be sarcastic, saying that capital is above the rule of democracy and the constitution.”

A woman surnamed Lee, 29, who also watched the film said, “I worked at a Samsung LCD factory for 2 and a half years starting in 2002. I could easily sympathize with the film overall, especially the oppressive atmosphere of the company and the workers having to work in three shifts.”

A committee honoring Choi Jong-bum, a repairman who serviced Samsung products and committed suicide after leaving a note reporting the unjust working conditions, issued a statement calling for the establishment of a social organization with participation from across society to monitor Samsung’s corruption and irregularities and revamp the company. That movement will start with plans to open more theaters to allow viewers to see ‘Another Family’.

Meanwhile, the Guardian, a British daily newspaper, reported on Feb. 5 about Mr. Hwang’s fight for justice for his daughter against Samsung and “a largely timorous South Korean media”. The Guardian added that the silence surrounding the cases of Yu-mi and other Samsung workers with illnesses “will be pierced by the nationwide release of a fictional film inspired by Hwang’s decade-long search for the truth”.

watches the premiere of ‘Another Family’ at a CGV theater in Seoul‘s Guro district

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