The Road Taken (2003 Film)
The Road Taken (Korean: 선택; RR: Seontaek) is a 2003 South Korean biographical drama film directed by Hong Ki-seon. The film chronicles the life of Kim Seon-myeong, a man who spent over 42 years in prison for his refusal to renounce his communist beliefs following the Korean War.
Background and Plot
The narrative is based on the life of Kim Seon-myeong, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1953 after being accused of defecting to North Korea and supporting communist ideology. Kim became known for his refusal to sign a "letter of conversion," a document required by South Korean authorities for the release of political prisoners. His steadfast adherence to his convictions resulted in him serving one of the longest terms of incarceration for a political prisoner in South Korean history.
The film explores the psychological and physical toll of his decades-long imprisonment, contrasting his resolve with the experiences of his fellow inmates, many of whom eventually chose to sign the conversion letters to secure their freedom. The film concludes with footage featuring the real Kim Seon-myeong.
Production
Director Hong Ki-seon, known for his focus on social and political themes, directed the film from a screenplay by Maeng-yu Lee. The film stars Kim Joong-ki as the protagonist, Kim Seon-myeong. The production was released in South Korea on October 24, 2003, with a runtime of 103 minutes.
Cast
- Kim Joong-ki as Kim Seon-myeong
- Ahn Suk-hwan as Oh Tae-shik
- Choi Il-hwa as Ahn Hak-seob
- Ko Dong-eop as Jong-dal
- Se-yeong Kim as Nam Yeong-man
- Son Byung-ho
- Park Chul-min
- Kim Kyu-cheol
- Lee Eun-jung as Sun-mi
- Kwon Tae-won as Do-yeong Song
- Keum Dong-hyun
- Hong Suk-youn as prison guard
- Park Soo-il as prosecutor
- Park Choong-sun as himself
- Jung Mi-nam as possession 2
- No Seung-jin as Prison Chaplain Yang
- Uhm Choon-bae