Four classic films, which hold significant value in Korean cinematic history, are set to be designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage, as announced by the Korea Heritage Service on December 15 (KST). The films include 'The Nakdong River' (1952, directed by Jeon Chang Geun), 'Money' (1958, directed by Kim So Dong), 'The Housemaid' (1960, directed by Kim Ki Young), and 'Seong Chun Hyang' (1961, directed by Shin Sang Ok).

These films are considered turning points in Korean cinema and are highly regarded for their historical and cultural significance.

'The Nakdong River' (1952, Jeon Chang Geun) is the only film from the Korean War era to have its visuals and audio fully preserved. It features Yun I Sang's orchestral work Poem of the Nakdong River for the first time, representing a collaborative effort of cultural artists during wartime.

'Money' (1958, Kim So Dong) portrays the harsh realities of rural life during Korea's industrialization period and is recognized as a key example of Korean realism in cinema.

'The Housemaid' (1960, Kim Ki Young) is a masterpiece in Korean film history, exploring family disintegration and fear with a strikingly surreal mise-en-scène. It is considered the foundation of Kim Ki Young’s cinematic world.

'Seong Chun Hyang' (1961, Shin Sang Ok) is Korea’s first color CinemaScope film and set a box office record at the time. It also marked a milestone for the Korean film industry by being screened in six Japanese cities after being featured at the 8th Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

KOFA has been working on digitizing and restoring these films to preserve their original value. Notably, 'The Housemaid' gained international recognition after its restoration in 2008 and screenings at the Cannes Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival. 'Seong Chun Hyang' was also restored and released in high definition in 2021.

This registration highlights the importance of classic films as cultural assets that go beyond popular entertainment to document historical periods. Following the addition of these four films, KOFA will manage a total of 12 National Registered Cultural Heritage films.

This initiative aims to shed light on the value of old, damaged film reels and strengthen the historical and cultural significance of Korea’s cinematic legacy.

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