Kim Min Ha hopes 'Hana Korea' leaves a "Quiet Echo or Powerful Resonance" as North Korean defector drama heads global
Stories about North Korean defectors have been told before, but what happens when one is directed by a Danish filmmaker? Director Frederik Sølberg offers an outsider's perspective while remaining deeply attentive to the realities of Korean society in 'Hana Korea.'
The film gains further authenticity through co-writer Sharon Choi (Choi Sung Jae), internationally known as the interpreter for the Oscar-winning film 'Parasite.' At the center of the story is actress Kim Min Ha, who delivers a restrained yet emotionally powerful performance as Hye Sun, a North Korean defector navigating fear, loneliness, and hope in an unfamiliar world.
The production held a press screening and conference on June 26 at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, attended by director Frederik Sølberg, Kim Min Ha, Kim Joo Ryung, Ahn Seo Hyun, and co-writer Sharon Choi.
Inspired by a true story, Hana Korea follows Hye Sun's journey as she struggles to build a new life after escaping North Korea.
Sølberg explained how the project first began. He recalled, "I first came to Korea in 2014 and met two men who told me, 'Our wish is for reunification.' That intrigued me, so I started researching the subject."
The turning point came in 2019, when he met a North Korean defector whose courage deeply moved him.
"Her bravery gave me strength," he said. "Through Hye Sun's story, I hoped audiences would reflect on the many meanings of freedom that we often take for granted."
Sharon Choi joined the project after its overall framework had already been established, helping shape the emotional depth of the screenplay.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about which forms of separation we wanted to focus on," she said. "Sometimes I wrote in English, sometimes in Korean. We kept revising and building the story together."
Her contribution helped create a portrayal of Korean women so authentic that it hardly feels like the work of a foreign director.
"When people think about North Korean defectors, they often focus on financial struggles or dramatic incidents," Choi explained. "But I learned that life often becomes even harder five years after settling down. Longing for home, guilt toward the people left behind, isolation, and emotional disconnection become overwhelming. Those were the experiences we wanted to explore."
She added, "Stories like these are often consumed as spectacle. In such a divided world, I felt we needed a story that people could emotionally connect with."
Kim Min Ha said she immediately felt the weight of the role after reading the script.
"Because it was inspired by a real person, I knew I had to approach it with great care," she said. "It was a story I could never have imagined."
She carefully mapped Hye Sun's emotional transformation from the moment she arrived at Hanawon, South Korea's settlement support center for North Korean defectors, expressing much of the character's growth through silence rather than dialogue.
A week-long workshop in Denmark before filming also helped her immerse herself in the role.
"We spent an entire week discussing the film and rehearsing together," Kim said. "The director even invited us to his home. As we got to know one another, the walls between us disappeared, making it easy to adapt once filming began."
She added, "Even though we spoke different languages, we understood each other remarkably well. It reminded me that filmmaking transcends both language and culture."
Kim Joo Ryung portrays Sook Hee, a fellow defector who becomes Hye Sun's emotional support after they meet at Hanawon.
"I met with the director many times before filming and had extensive conversations with the writer," Kim said. "That allowed me to focus entirely on Sook Hee's pain."
Rather than portraying a woman who had overcome her trauma, Kim saw Sook Hee as someone who had simply learned how to carry it.
"I don't think she ever truly overcame her pain," she said. "She simply learned to live while enduring it. I focused more on suppressing emotion than expressing it."
Ahn Seo Hyun brings a brighter energy to the film as Bo Mi, a young woman who embraces her new environment with optimism.
"The film has a slow, deliberate rhythm, but Bo Mi is the only character who brings a sense of tempo," Ahn explained. "I tried to express whatever Bo Mi was feeling in each moment as naturally as possible."
Sølberg, who is also a musician, said music played an essential role in the film's storytelling.
"I wanted to use music sparingly," he said. "Rather than forcing emotions onto the audience, I wanted the music to flow alongside them."
He described the score as "warm yet melancholic," adding that he and the music director worked together to create a hopeful musical conclusion.
The director also shared an unusual practice from production: each morning before filming, he sent the cast a piece of music via KakaoTalk that reflected the emotional tone of that day's scenes.
Kim Joo Ryung laughed as she recalled the experience.
"The songs didn't even have a recognizable melody—they were incredibly abstract," she said. "But I found myself listening to them over and over, reflecting on the scenes. It was a unique experience that I'll probably never have again."
Throughout Hana Korea, Hye Sun's loneliness is expressed through silence rather than exposition. Instead of relying on dramatic events, the film allows the characters' expressions and quiet moments to speak for themselves.
Sølberg explained that he deliberately adjusted the camera's movement to mirror Hye Sun's emotional journey.
"At the beginning, the camera remains fixed to match Hye Sun's circumstances," he said. "As she gradually gains a greater sense of freedom, the camera begins to move more freely as well."
He also revealed that he intentionally spent time alone during production to better understand Hye Sun's isolation.
"I wanted to experience the perspective of an outsider who doesn't fully belong in Korean society," he said.
Hana Korea is a South Korea-Denmark co-production featuring internationally recognized actors, including Kim Min Ha (Pachinko), Kim Joo Ryung (Squid Game), and Ahn Seo Hyun (Okja), positioning the film for global audiences.
"All three actors have extraordinary filmographies," Sølberg said. "There is already significant international interest in the film. It opens in Denmark this August and will later be released in North America. I'm very curious to see how overseas audiences respond."
Closing the press conference, Kim Min Ha expressed her hopes for the film.
"Our film isn't grand or flashy," she said. "But I hope it leaves audiences with either a quiet echo or a powerful resonance."
'Hana Korea' opens in theaters on July 8 and has a runtime of 105 minutes.
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