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The Real History Behind Netflix’s Korean War Epic Uprising

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The Real History Behind Netflix’s Korean War Epic Uprising

As a historian with a deep interest in Asian history, I find myself deeply moved by the narrative of “Uprising.” Having spent years studying the Imjin War and its impact on Korea, it is captivating to see this complex historical event brought to life on screen through such a unique lens. The film’s focus on internal strife, particularly the class unrest that escalates during the war, resonates profoundly with me, as I too have witnessed how power structures can oppress and marginalize people in my own research and personal experiences.

Titled “Uprising“, Netflix’s latest Korean action-war epic, chronicles the tumultuous bond between Cheon-yeong (portrayed by Gang Dong-won from “Broker“) and Jong-ryeo (starring Park Jeong-min from “The 8 Show“). This friendship unfolds over several decades, set against the backdrop of the late 16th century Joseon dynasty’s Neo-Confucianist society. Cheon-yeong is a slave with exceptional swordsmanship skills, while Jong-ryeo is a nobleman’s son grappling with his privileged position and ideals. Despite sharing the same household, they are not equally afforded comfort, freedom, or opportunities within this rigid societal structure.

In 1592, when Japan launches an invasion on the Korean Peninsula, initiating what would become known as the Imjin War, both men take up arms. Cheon-yeong enlists in the Righteous Army, a loosely organized militia made up of civilians, while Jong-ryeo remains with King Seonjo as he flees the capital and largely abandons his people to their fate. The film “War, Chaos” (translated from Korean as “전, 란“) reflects this narrative division into war and its aftermath. According to Korean film icon Park Chan-wook (“The Handmaiden”, “The Sympathizer”), who produced the movie and collaborated with Shin Chul on the script, the title symbolizes the spirit of this tale, which is not just about ‘chaos resulting from a war,’ but rather ‘war and its subsequent rebellion.’

The Real History Behind Netflix’s Korean War Epic Uprising

The Imjin War, fought between Japan and Korea in 1592, has deep-rooted implications for the self-perception of Koreans towards both Japan and its people, according to Professor Nam-lin Hur. This conflict, although not a part of the American curriculum, also involved China’s Ming Dynasty, which sent vast numbers of troops to aid Korea, leading to significant casualties. At that time, Korea was under the Joseon dynasty, which had been in power since 1392 and is recognized for cultural advancements like the creation of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, in 1443.

In my perspective as a movie critic, the Joseon dynasty period was marked by the emergence of an elite class known as the ‘yangban.’ This group, predominantly composed of civil servants and military officials, represented the highest echelon in a deeply stratified society. Jong-ryeo would have been part of this distinguished circle. Despite their potential for military service and high-ranking leadership roles, the government did not compel them to serve even during times of war, as Hur points out.

The movie “Uprising” manages to condense a significant amount of Korean history within its two-hour span, yet it never comes off as overtly educational due to its action-packed nature. The drama in the film primarily revolves around its central relationship, which is deeply rooted in its historically rich context. As actor Park expressed to TIME through an interpreter, most Koreans are aware of the war and the volunteer militia, but what this project taught him was not just the facts, but also the emotions that lay hidden beneath those facts. It’s about understanding not only what happened, but also delving deeper into the feelings behind the events.

The Real History Behind Netflix’s Korean War Epic Uprising

In 1598, when Japanese forces departed from the Korean Peninsula following the war, it’s been estimated that as many as half a million soldiers from Japan, China, and Korea had lost their lives. Despite Joseon emerging victorious, the region and its inhabitants suffered immense destruction. According to research by The Aftermath project, which aims to explore the regional impact of this conflict, some figures suggest that up to 2 million people in Joseon – equating to about one-fifth of the population – had perished or been abducted. Approximately 20,000 to 100,000 Koreans were forcibly taken to Japan, exacerbating the demographic challenges facing Joseon’s society in the aftermath of the war. Remarkably, the Joseon dynasty would persist for another three centuries, until Japan seized the peninsula in 1910.

The main theme of Uprising revolves around class struggle that intensifies during the war, as portrayed through its primary characters, particularly Cheon-yeong. During the war, Cheon-yeong conceals his slave status and employs his fighting abilities to assist Joseon in winning the conflict, anticipating lasting freedom as a reward. As Gang explains, “He becomes a hero, and he lives in freedom.” However, after the war, surprisingly, he is forced to return to the lowest class. Even though the system returns, he cannot alter it. Despite his continued desire to change it, he realizes it’s impossible. Consequently, he decides to shatter the system itself.

In this movie, although General Genshin, portrayed by Jung Sung-il, serves as the overt antagonist representing the Japanese invaders, “Uprising” presents King Seonjo, a figure often depicted in Korean pop culture, and the aristocratic system he symbolizes as the main antagonist. According to Hur, this historical figure was primarily focused on preserving his throne, using power and resources at his disposal, which included people. He was indifferent to anything else, not even caring about the number of lives lost during the war in order to protect his rule. This was the ruthless nature of power that people had to endure under King Seonjo’s reign.

The Real History Behind Netflix’s Korean War Epic Uprising

For Kim, who hadn’t directed a movie in nearly a decade prior to this project, the exploration of internal conflicts made Uprising stand out from typical war films. “There have been numerous films where the enemy is the one invading,” says Kim, “and I didn’t want to make a film about that storyline. Instead, I wanted to create a narrative in which an external invasion serves as a catalyst for the collapse of the internal, well-established system. That was the tale I wished to share.

During the Imjin War, although the Joseon caste system wasn’t fully dismantled, it experienced a temporary weakening, which led to instances of widespread rebellion as depicted in “Uprising”. It was the citizens of Joseon, frustrated by King Seonjo’s decision to abandon Seoul, who ultimately set fire to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, not the Japanese invasion forces. Hur explains that while the class system was weakened during the war, after the conflict ended, the ruling class worked diligently to reestablish and even expand their power within the social hierarchy.

Even though the Imjin War may be unfamiliar to many international viewers, Kim believes it’s the themes of class consciousness that will make Uprising relatable. “The reason people find these themes so compelling is because, although it’s not explicitly stated or controlled by social structures now, there remains a sense of class division,” explains Kim. “This could be economic or generational power, but I believe that these themes are still very much relevant and therefore resonant.

For actor Park, there’s a second, profoundly relatable international theme that echoes strongly within him: “Nearly every nation has experienced conflict at some point in their past.” He explains, “Whether it be centuries ago in Korea or currently taking place on another continent, wars are essentially losses for the country, and no one truly benefits from them.

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2024-10-11 22:09

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