Herstory (2018 Film)
Herstory (Korean: 허스토리) is a 2018 South Korean historical drama film directed by Min Kyu-dong. The film dramatizes the legal struggle of a group of women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, commonly referred to as comfort women. The narrative focuses on the Shimonoseki trials, a series of legal proceedings held in Japan between 1992 and 1998.
Plot
The film follows a group of 10 plaintiffs and their 13 legal representatives as they pursue justice through the Japanese court system. The story documents the emotional and logistical challenges faced by the survivors during 23 separate trials conducted over six years. It highlights the persistence of the plaintiffs and their legal team in seeking recognition and compensation for their wartime experiences.
Cast
The film features an ensemble cast portraying the plaintiffs and those involved in the legal proceedings:
- Kim Hee-ae as Moon Jung-sook
- Kim Hae-sook as Bae Jung-kil
- Ye Soo-jung as Park Soon-nyeo
- Moon Sook as Seo Gwi-soon
- Lee Yong-nyeo as Lee Ok-joo
- Kim Sun-young as CEO Shin
- Kim Joon-han as Attorney Lee Sang-il
- Jung In-gi as Travel Agency Manager Choi
- Lee Yoo-young as Sun-young
- Park Jung-ja as Madame Hong
Production
The film was directed and written by Min Kyu-dong, with production managed by Park Ja-myung. It was released in South Korea on June 27, 2018, with a runtime of 121 minutes. The film was distributed by Next Entertainment World.