[단독] 영화 실미도 ‘안내 자막’ 바로 잡힌다…“사형수·무기수 묘사 사실과 달라”

The Netflix and TVE (OTT) service will add an "informational subtitle" to the movie "Realize," correcting historical errors. The subtitle will inform viewers that there were no special criminals, former convicts, or armed individuals among the movie's battalion public work units, who were mostly ordinary civilians. The film's filmmakers, CJ ENM, have agreed to implement the subtitle changes after receiving requests from the surviving public work unit members through the Ministry of National Defense.

The Ministry of National Defense previously requested the subtitle changes from the movie's production company, Cinema Services, in June, and confirmed the changes were made after verifying that the video distribution rights are with CJ ENM. The movie, "Realize" (2003), depicted the harsh training and escape from a remote island by North Korean special forces public work units and was the first Korean film to reach ten million viewers.

However, the movie incorrectly portrayed the public work unit members as former convicts and armed individuals, sparking criticism for misrepresenting their identities. The Ministry of National Defense had previously investigated and found that some public work unit members had minor criminal records, mainly for nail cutting and knife fighting.

The Ministry of National Defense had asked Cinema Services to make the subtitle changes following the requests from the surviving public work unit members.