On February 13, 2019, the Korea Foundation hosted a VIP screening of the Polish documentary “Kim Ki Dok” as part of the KF Global Film Week at the Seminar Room of the KF Global Center in Seoul.

The screening was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Korea. The “Kim Ki Dok” documentary, first broadcast in 2006 by Telewizja Polska, Poland’s largest TV network, is based on a true story. It depicts the friendship between Polish people and North Korean orphans, including Kim Ki Dok, who were sent to Poland during the Korean War in the early 1950s.

In his welcoming remarks prior to the screening, KF President Sihyung Lee expressed his special sentiments to once again see this documentary, which was produced during his ambassadorship to Poland. Thereafter, Piotr Ostaszewski, the Polish Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, also addressed the audience and highlighted the meaningfulness of the event to mark the long-standing friendship between Poland and Korea.

Next, filmmaker Choo Sang-mee addressed the audience. Last year, her documentary “The Children Gone to Poland” was shown at the Busan International Film Festival. Her film was also motivated by the story of Kim Ki Dok. Finally, Deputy Director General Joanna Hosaniak of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights delivered a short lecture on the background of the sending of Korean War orphans to Poland. At the reception after the screening, guests had a chance to discuss the film with filmmaker Sang-mee Choo and human rights expert Joanna Hosaniak.

The “Kim Ki Dok” documentary was also shown on February 20 and 27.

The KF Global Film Week introduces international films to the Korean public. If you would like to attend any of the screenings, please visit the KF website and reserve tickets for each month’s screening during the first week of the month. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. In March, the KF Global Film Week will present three documentaries from the Netherlands, followed by three Central Asian films in April. For further details, please visit the notice board on the KF website.