As One (2012 Film)
As One (Korean: 코리아) is a 2012 South Korean sports drama film directed by Moon Hyun-sung. The film dramatizes the events surrounding the formation of the first unified Korean table tennis team, which competed at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships held in Chiba, Japan.
Background
The film is based on the historical account of the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships, where athletes from South and North Korea competed as a single team. The narrative focuses on the interpersonal challenges and cultural differences faced by the athletes as they attempted to overcome decades of political division to compete on the international stage.
Production
The screenplay was developed following extensive interviews with Hyun Jung-hwa, a former national team player who was a member of the 1991 unified squad. To prepare for the role of Hyun Jung-hwa, actress Ha Ji-won underwent professional table tennis training under the guidance of the athlete herself.
Principal photography for the film commenced on May 3, 2011, and concluded on September 30, 2011. The production utilized post-processing and CGI to recreate the atmosphere of the 1991 tournament.
Cast
The film features an ensemble cast including:
- Ha Ji-won as Hyun Jung-hwa
- Bae Doona as Lee Boon-hee
- Choi Yoon-young as Yeon-jung
- Han Ye-ri as Soon-bok
- Oh Jung-se as Doo-man
- Park Chul-min as Coach Lee
- Lee Jong-suk as Choi Kyung-sub
Reception
The film received recognition for its performances, notably earning Han Ye-ri the award for Best New Actress at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2013.
