Choi Eun-hee
Encyclopedia
Choi Eun-hee is a South Korea
n actress. She began her film career in 1947 in the film A New Oath. For the next 20 years, she was one of the biggest stars in Korea
n film and led the Shin Film company along with her husband, the director Shin Sang-ok.
In 1978, Choi and Shin, who she had recently divorced, were kidnapped to North Korea
by orders from future dictator
Kim Jong-il
. Kim's plan was to have Shin work as his propagandist and for Choi to be the star. Shortly after agreeing to the demands of Kim, they were remarried at his recommendation. The couple finally staged their escape in 1986 while on a trip to Vienna
, fleeing to the United States
embassy and requesting political asylum.
According to the Internet Movie Database
, from 1955 to 1985, Choi appeared in eighty-one films. She received the award for best actress at the Moscow International Film Festival
in 1985, for her part in the film Sogum.
With Shin she wrote an account of their years in Pyongyang. Shin also wrote his own autobiography shortly before his death.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n actress. She began her film career in 1947 in the film A New Oath. For the next 20 years, she was one of the biggest stars in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n film and led the Shin Film company along with her husband, the director Shin Sang-ok.
In 1978, Choi and Shin, who she had recently divorced, were kidnapped to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
by orders from future dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
. Kim's plan was to have Shin work as his propagandist and for Choi to be the star. Shortly after agreeing to the demands of Kim, they were remarried at his recommendation. The couple finally staged their escape in 1986 while on a trip to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, fleeing to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
embassy and requesting political asylum.
According to the Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
, from 1955 to 1985, Choi appeared in eighty-one films. She received the award for best actress at the Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
in 1985, for her part in the film Sogum.
With Shin she wrote an account of their years in Pyongyang. Shin also wrote his own autobiography shortly before his death.
External links and references
- Inside the mind of Kim Jong-il, BBC, July 21, 2003, retrieved January 29, 2006
- Kidnapped by North Korea, Mike Thomson, BBC, March 5, 2003, retrieved January 29, 2006