Kuro Arirang

Kuro Arirang (Hangul: 구로아리랑; RR: Guro Arirang) is a 1989 South Korean film by Park Jong-won which stars Ok So-ri and Lee Geung-young and marks the debut of Choi Min-sik and Shin Eun-kyung. The film caused a stir over labor issues.

Plot

The film depicts the story of four people working in a sewing factory in Guro Industrial Complex in Seoul and the problems they face.

Cast

External links

Arirang

"Arirang" (Korean: 아리랑) is a Korean folk song, often considered as the unofficial national anthem of Korea.

In December 2012, South Korea's submission of the song was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity program by UNESCO. This was followed by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea's announcement of a five-year plan to promote and preserve the song. The plan supports "Arirang" festivals by regional organizations with the purpose of building an archive for the song, promoting research grants, holding exhibitions, and so on. The song's first translation into singable lyrics in nine languages was performed in December 2013.

North Korea also submitted the song to the Intangible cultural heritage list and their submission was inscribed in 2014.

Etymology

Many versions of the song start by describing the travails encountered by the subject of the song while crossing a mountain pass. "Arirang" is one name for the pass and hence the title of the song. Some versions of "Arirang" mention Mungyeong Saejae, which is the main mountain pass on the road connecting Seoul and southeastern Gyeongsang Province during the Joseon Dynasty.

Arirang (TV network)

Arirang TV (Korean: 아리랑 TV; Arirang tibui) is an international English-language network based in Seoul, South Korea operated by the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation. The channel presents programs (including cultural features, documentaries and language programs) designed to give viewers a contemporary, accurate look at Korea, Asia and the world. The network's name, "Arirang", is derived from the traditional Korean folk song of the same name. Programming is available on the Arirang website, on YouTube, and on some TV providers.

The channel receives government subsidies; in 2011 these amounted to 30 billion won.

A related production, Arirang Radio, also broadcasts English-language content internationally.

Programming

Founded in 1996, the network airs news, cultural programs, educational shows and documentaries.

Among the network's longest-running shows is Arirang News, Showbiz Korea, Pops in Seoul and Heart to Heart. Arirang News is a current-affairs show providing coverage of domestic and international news. From Diplomacy Lounge and the talk show Heart to Heart seeing the country through the eyes of foreign diplomats and visiting international newsmakers. Although government-affiliated, Arirang retains independent-programming rights. The network airs programming about other countries, for culturally-diverse content; this includes culinary shows about global cuisines and public-service announcements in conjunction with UNICEF to combat world hunger.

Arirang (2011 film)

Arirang (Korean: 아리랑) is a 2011 South Korean documentary film by Kim Ki-duk. The film addresses a personal crisis Kim went through, sparked by an incident during the filming of his previous film, Dream, where the lead actress nearly died by hanging, and by the departure of a couple of close colleagues, including the director Jang Hoon. The title comes from a Korean folk song with the same title. In a heavily line-broken text released about the film, Kim writes that "Through Arirang I understand human beings, thank the nature, and accept my life as it is now." Kim produced the film entirely on his own. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and won the top award for best film.

Release

The film premiered on 13 May at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival where it was screened in Un Certain Regard. Kim only did one interview at the festival, where he said that he felt better than when he made the film, and that it had helped him cure himself. At one occasion during the interview, Kim suddenly started to sob and sang "Arirang".