Korea-China Cultural Exchange Through Movies
China's past and present films are compressed
Last year, 800 films were made... Only 40 were screened in Korea
My father is a Hong Kong martial arts movie enthusiast
I often borrow videotapes for my father's errands
Blue House often watches movies with family members and employees
My dream was to become a baseball player when I was young
I'm not going down that path just because I'm deciding on something
I feel like I'm given a new mission and mission in my life
Reporter Jeon Hyunsuk / 2016.09.24. 03:00
Ro Jae-hun, President of Korea China Culture Center, opened a theater dedicated to Chinese movies at Lotte World Tower in Seoul. Ro's appearance in the movie theater resembles his father, former President Roh Tae-woo. Mr. Ro said, "You will be pleased to think that 24 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China by his father, his son is playing for movie exchanges between Korea and China."
Noh Jae-heon, 51, the director of the Korea-China Cultural Center, is into Chinese movies recently. In partnership with Lotte Cinema, Noh opened "Silk Road Theater," a theater dedicated to Chinese movies, at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul on Aug. 18. The theater will screen modern and contemporary Chinese movies for the next year. Most of the films are copyrighted by the Chinese government, and Roh met with the vice-minister of the Chinese culture ministry and got permission to show them.
The official opening ceremony will be held on July 27, with movie stars Ahn Sung-ki, Chinese director Zhang Ji-liang, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong and ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Chung Byung-gook. Roh is the only son of former President Roh Tae-woo (84). When we met him at Silk Road Theater on July 5, he asked, "Why do you think the former president's son would do such a thing?" and continued, "I'm living quietly and I want to live, but I want to do it more actively when it comes to China."
-- Why is that?
"The relationship between South Korea and China is important. In particular, if we better understand each other through cultural exchanges, we will be able to solve difficulties such as the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula."
--Why is it a Chinese movie among cultural exchanges?
"It shows China's past and present in a compressed way. But in Korea, there are fewer opportunities to watch Chinese movies than before. About 800 movies were made in China last year, but only 40 movies were screened in Korea. It wasn't a big hit. I thought that if we continue to introduce good movies by making a private theater, it will increase our understanding of China and help to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Thanks to Lotte Cinema's cooperation, things are going smoothly."
-- Did you originally like Chinese movies?
"I'm not the type to be into movies, but I've been visiting China a lot for work at the Korea-China Cultural Center since four years ago, and I've been watching a lot of Chinese movies on the plane. There are more interesting and good movies than I thought."
-- Which movie was particularly impressive?
"It's called 'Apple (苹果)' which realistically tells the story of a woman working at a foot massage shop in Beijing, her husband, a Chinese farmer (a poor worker working in a city away from rural area), and the owner of a foot massage shop. The exclusive hall will mainly introduce works by famous directors such as Chen Kaiger, Huang Jianxin, Zhang Yimou and Seo-geuk for the time being, and I really want to show 'Apple' as well."
--I don't think it would have been easy to get the cooperation of the Chinese government?
"It was easier than I thought. When I met with the Vice Culture Minister of China in June last year, he helped me as if he was waiting for me. Through the National Newspaper and Publications Bureau, which oversees Chinese media, I was able to get the movie rights of the Chinese government free of charge."
My father is a Hong Kong martial arts movie enthusiast
Ro Jae-hun, President of Korea China Culture Center, stood in front of the Silk Road Theater, a Chinese movie theater that has hold an official opening ceremony on the 27th.
Former President Roh Tae-woo established diplomatic relations with China for the first time on August 24, 1992. Citing the old saying, "The Chinese people will never forget the contribution and achievement President Roh Tae-woo made to establish diplomatic relations between Korea and China."
-- As the son of former President Roh, I think it'll be helpful when you do something like this.
"There is definitely an easy access to China because my father was a party to establish diplomatic relations. I also have a sense of duty. Since my father established diplomatic relations between Korea and China, I want to develop relations between the two countries more closely and practically."
-- Former President Roh loved movies?
"My father and mother talked a lot about movies they saw in their relationships. In his 2011 memoir, he wrote that he and his mother watched Sadness, Young Lions, Gone with the Wind, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Singoala."
-- Do you have any memories of your father in relation to the movie?
"My father was a big fan of Hong Kong martial arts. When I came home late at night, I watched a series like 'Empress Wu' alone. I went on an errand to rent a videotape, and I borrowed all the Hong Kong movies from a local video store, so I had a hard time getting a new one."
-- During your presidency?
"No. Before that. You were really busy after you became president. Still, you often watched movies at the presidential office. Not only with your family but also with people who work at the presidential office."
-- How is former President Roh's health?
"I can't communicate properly because my health is very bad. I think you'll be happy to think that 24 years after diplomatic relations with China, my son is playing for movie exchanges between Korea and China."
-- According to former President Roh's memoirs, "I was worried about how I became the fate of politics and made my wife suffer." "When I had dinner with my family at Cheong Wa Dae sometimes, I remembered my family, which was in a difficult situation in the past, and I felt nostalgic." Have you ever thought if your father had lived as a soldier?
"He was not earthly at all. As a son, I often wondered, 'How can a man like that do politics?'" When he was young, he almost became a doctor, but when a war broke out, he became a soldier. He thought military was his way, but then unexpected things happened and he became a politician and became president. He wasn't like, 'I should do something by any means'. I think he lived a life like that, accepting destiny, resignation, and life given to him, and always doing his best."
"President's son is also a normal person"
After graduating from Seoul National University in 1988, Jaeheon earned a master's degree in political science from Stanford University. After serving in the military as a master's officer, he worked as a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, U.S., and then worked as a secretary to the then National Assembly speaker, Park Joon-kyu. Later, in 1994, he became the youngest person to head the Dong-gu Eul district in his hometown of Daegu. However, when former President Roh Tae-woo's slush fund scandal broke out in 1995, Jae-heon resigned from his post. He served as his father's "okbaraj" for two years. "I still feel sad when I think about it because it seems that I have blocked my son's path," Roh wrote in his memoir.
--What was your childhood dream?
"I wanted to become a baseball player. Unfortunately, I wasn't very athletic. I don't think I had any particular dreams after that."
--You once dreamed of becoming a politician？
"I had that thought a little when I was young. Back then, Korean society had a political-oriented atmosphere, and I had that thought for a while because of my father's influence. However, half of the time I quit, and I couldn't afford to think after that."
-- Former President Roh wrote in his memoir, "I also expect (my son) to realize his dream that he couldn't achieve someday after calmly building his skills."
"As my father said, life doesn't go down the path just because I want to, but new missions and missions are given in life. Times are changing so quickly these days, but I think it takes 10 years to start everything and do it properly. It's been 3 to 4 years since I worked in Korea-China cultural exchange, so I'm going to focus on it until I fill 10 years. Furthermore, it is my personal dream to help Korea and China jointly launch global cultural products."
- Recently, there were also suspicions about the paper company.
"While working as a lawyer in Hong Kong, you established a paper company in the process of developing a Chinese business related to culture. I failed in the process of implementing the business, so I didn't open an account at all, and it has nothing to do with slush funds. Anyway, I apologize for causing a stir. It was an opportunity to reflect on myself once again, and I realized again that the process is as important as the result."
--Even after the president leaves office, every move of himself and his children will be noticed. What does it mean to live as a son of a president in Korea?
"It doesn't mean much. In Korean society, everyone can become a celebrity, for good or for bad, at any given moment. Now, as a member of society, I think I need to be a normal person and have a good mindset."