The 10th-anniversary expanded edition of 'Gwiyang' screens for Jungnang-gu residents in a special event to reflect on historical memory; Jungnang Yangwon Media Center surpasses 100,000 cumulative visitors since opening
Jungnang-gu held a special screening of the film "Gwiyang: Eonni-ya Ije Jibe Gaja" ("Sister, Let's Go Home Now") at Cinema Nopil, the public screening hall of the Jungnang Yangwon Media Center, at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The event was organized to allow residents to watch the 10th-anniversary expanded edition of "Gwiyang" — a film documenting the history of Japanese military sexual slavery — together, and to reflect on and share the meaning of that historical memory.
"Gwiyang," released in 2016, drew about 3.58 million viewers and resonated widely with audiences. The 10th-anniversary edition, "Gwiyang: Sister, Let's Go Home Now," is an expanded cut incorporating previously unreleased footage and broadening its scope beyond Korean victims to tell the stories of women across Asia.
With screens and showtimes limited nationwide, many viewers have found it difficult to see the film even when they want to. The district joined the special screening initiative to widen access for residents.
The event drew about 50 attendees, including director Jo Jeong-rae and members of the Jungnang-gu Committee for the Establishment of the Peace Monument, along with local residents. Following an introduction of the director, the 132-minute film screened, after which attendees gathered to discuss the historical message it conveys.
The screening was organized around the theme "Space of Memory, Window of Memory," linking Mangwoo History and Culture Park with Cinema Nopil as a single narrative. The event invited residents to reflect on Jungnang's history and cultural assets through the historical significance of Mangwoo History and Culture Park — the resting place of key figures from modern Korean history, including independence activists and artists — and through Cinema Nopil, which honors film director Nopil.
The Jungnang Yangwon Media Center, which opened in March 2024, has surpassed 100,000 cumulative visitors and established itself as a media hub for the community.
Cinema Nopil, the public screening hall where the special event was held, operates as a space where residents can enjoy a range of films as part of their daily lives and engage with culture and history together.
"If Mangwoo History and Culture Park is a 'space of memory' that holds history within it, then Cinema Nopil at the Yangwon Media Center is the 'window of memory' through which that history is shared with residents," Jungnang-gu District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi said. "We will continue to expand opportunities for residents to encounter our history in their everyday lives and reflect on its meaning through diverse cultural content, including films and exhibitions."
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