''May 18'' (; lit. "Splendid Holiday") is a South Korean film released in

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

Synopsis

The film is based on the

Gwangju massacre The Gwangju Uprising was a popular uprising in the city of Gwangju, South Korea, from May 18 to May 27, 1980, which pitted local, armed citizens against soldiers and police of the South Korean government. The event is sometimes called 5·18 (Ma ...

on May 18, 1980. It occurred when General

Chun Doo-hwan Chun Doo-hwan (; or ; 18 January 1931 – 23 November 2021) was a South Korean Republic of Korea Army, army general and military dictator who ruled as an unelected Political strongman, strongman from 1979 to 1980 before replacing Choi Kyu-hah ...

tried to eliminate any rebels by using military force. Min-woo (

Kim Sang-kyung Kim Sang-kyung (born June 1, 1972; ) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his leading roles in '' Memories of Murder'' (2003) and ''May 18'' (2007). Two of his films directed by Hong Sang-soo, '' Tale of Cinema'' (2005) and '' Ha Ha Ha'' ( ...

) leads a relatively peaceful life with his younger brother Jin-woo (

Lee Joon-gi Lee Joon-gi (born 17 April 1982) is a South Korean actor, singer, dancer, and model. He rose to fame on his first leading role playing a clown in the critically acclaimed film ''The King and the Clown'' (2005) and gained further recognition in ...

)—until the day the soldiers go on the rampage against the citizens. The citizens form a militia determined to protect their loved ones, and Min-woo finds himself in the middle of it all. One day something unexpected happens suddenly. Innocent citizens are assaulted and even killed by martial law army armed with guns and knives. A tear gas rolls into the theater and a college student jumps into the theater, followed by a soldier. When all the people who watched the movie came out, martial law soldiers beat up college students and beat everyone out of the theater. Gwangju citizens, who have lost friends, lovers and family members in front of their eyes in an unjust manner, start to form a civic group centering on Heung-soo (

Ahn Sung-ki Ahn Sung-ki (born January 1, 1952) is a South Korean actor. One of the country's most respected actors, he has appeared in more than 130 films during his career of over 60 years. Career A native of Seoul, Ahn was the son of a veteran filmmaker ...

), who retired officer-turned-military officer, and begin a 10-day struggle. Meanwhile, Jin-woo is angry that his classmate was beaten to death by martial law soldiers when he was not a college student, leading his friends to take the lead in the protest. Min-woo wants to stop his younger brother Jin-woo from taking the lead in the protest. But Jin-woo couldn't stay still, and in the end, Jin-woo was shot in front of Min-woo by martial law soldiers. The governor of South Jeolla Province shows up on a helicopter to citizens in front of the provincial government to mediate between them. The broadcast was about to withdraw martial law troops until the hour of the day, and the civilian forces believe the words and cheer. Gwangju citizens wait for the right time, but the soldiers do not withdraw at the promised time. As the national anthem is played through the speakers of the provincial government building, citizens salute with their right hand on their left chests, while soldiers sit down and prepare to shoot in a posture at the civilians, and then fire away.

Cast

as Kang Min-woo *

as Park Heung-soo *

Lee Yo-won Lee Yo-won (born April 9, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Queen Seondeok in the eponymous hit period drama. Career Lee Yo-won was a sophomore in high school when she won a modeling contest and first appe ...

as Park Shin-ae *

as Kang Jin-woo *

Park Chul-min Park Chul-min (born January 18, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Career Park Chul-min began acting in his high school drama club at Chosun University High School, and though he majored in Business Administration at Chung-Ang University, he spent ...

as In-bong *

Park Won-sang Park Won-sang (born January 20, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television Theater Ambassadorship *Ambassador for 1st Democratization Movement Memorial Park Joint Memorial Cultural Festival (2022) References External ...

as Yong-dae *

Song Jae-ho Song Jae-ho (born Song Jae-eon; 10 March 1937 – 7 November 2020) was a South Korean actor. Career He made his acting debut in 1959, and became best known for his work in 1970s and 1980s Korean cinema, notably ''Yeong-ja's Heydays'' (1975). S ...

as Priest Kim *

Na Moon-hee Na Moon-hee (; Na Kyung-ja, ; November 30, 1941) is a South Korean actress. Since 1960, Na has had a prolific acting career in television and film spanning more than five decades. She established a classic Korean mother persona with her TV drama ...

as Naju-daek *

Son Byong-ho Son Byong-ho (born August 25, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Son is known for his role in action films, notably, ''R-Point'' (2004), '' Running Wild'' (2006), ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' (2008) and ''Insu, The Queen Mother ''Insu, the Qu ...

as Teacher Jung *

Baek Bong-ki Baek Bong-ki (born December 16, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the noir film ''Once Upon a Time in High School'' (2004) and the military sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational come ...

as Won-ki *

Jung In-gi Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunic ...

as Jin-chul *

Hwang Young-hee Hwang Young-hee is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for her roles in dramas, '' While You Were Sleeping'', ''My Healing Love'', and '' Nokdu Flower''. She also appeared in movies such as '' The Witness'', '' Stray Dogs'', ''May 18 ...

as In-bong's wife * Lee Eol as Lieutenant Colonel Bae * Choi Jae-hwan as Byung-jo * Yoo Hyung-kwan as Byung-jo's father * Im Hyun-sung as Sang-pil * Park Yong-soo as General Jung * Kwon Tae-won as General Choi *

Um Hyo-sup Um Hyo-sup (born October 24, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Um mostly plays supporting roles in films and television dramas Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed i ...

as Captain Kim * Kim Cheol-ki as Corporal Yoo

Awards and nominations

;

Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by ''Sports Chosun'' (a sister brand of the ''Chosun Ilbo'') for excellence in film in South Korea. The Blue Dragon Film Awards considers only blockbusters and popula ...

"May 18 – Awards"
Cinemasie. Retrieved 2014-02-07. * Nomination – Best Film * Nomination – Best Director – Kim Ji-hoon * Nomination – Best Actor –

* Nomination – Best Actress –

* Nomination – Best Supporting Actor –

* Nomination – Best Screenplay – Na Hyun * Nomination – Best Cinematography – Lee Doo-man * Nomination – Best Art Direction – Park Il-hyun ;2007 Korea Movie Star Awards *Best Film *Best Director – Kim Ji-hoon *Best Supporting Actress –

*Best Tears Award –

;2007

Korean Film Awards The Korean Film Awards was a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the broadcasting network MBC from 2002 to 2010. History Originally named the MBC Film Awards, the ceremony was first established in 2002. It was renamed the Korean Film Aw ...

* Nomination – Best Supporting Actor –

* Nomination – Best Art Direction – Park Il-hyun * Nomination – Best Visual Effects – Kim Jong-su * Nomination – Best Sound – Jang Gwang-su ;

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

* Nomination – Best Film ;

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

* Nomination – Best Supporting Actor –

References

External links

Official website

Official website
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:May 18 (film) 2007 films 2000s war drama films South Korean war drama films Films about the Gwangju Uprising Films about rebellions Films set in 1980 Films set in Gwangju Films shot in Gwangju Films shot in South Jeolla Province Films about brothers South Korean films based on actual events Films directed by Kim Ji-hoon CJ Entertainment films 2000s Korean-language films 2007 drama films 2000s South Korean films

Synopsis

Cast

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links