Sea Fog

This article is about the 2014 South Korean film. For other uses, see Sea fog (disambiguation).

Sea Fog (Korean: 해무; RR: Haemu) is a 2014 South Korean crime thriller film directed by Shim Sung-bo. The film is adapted from the 2007 stage play Haemoo,^[2] which in turn was based on the true story of 25 Korean-Chinese illegal immigrants who suffocated to death in the storage tank of the fishing vessel Taechangho; their bodies were dumped by the ship's crew into the sea southwest of Yeosu on October 7, 2001.^[3][4]

Sea Fog
Theatrical release poster
Hangul	해무
Hanja	海霧
Revised Romanization	Haemu
Directed by	Shim Sung-bo
Written by	Shim Sung-bo Bong Joon-ho
Based on	Haemoo by Kim Min-jung
Produced by	Bong Joon-ho Lewis Taewan Kim Jo Neung-yeon
Starring	Kim Yoon-seok Park Yoo-chun Han Ye-ri Lee Hee-joon Moon Sung-keun Kim Sang-ho
Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo
Edited by	Kim Sang-bum Kim Jae-bum
Music by	Jung Jae-il
Production companies	Lewis Pictures Finecut
Distributed by	Next Entertainment World
Release date	August 13, 2014 (2014-08-13)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	US$10 million
Box office	US$11.4 million[1]

It was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards and the 72nd Golden Globe Awards, but was not nominated.^[5][6][7]

Plot

The 69-ton fishing vessel Jeonjinho fails to catch as much fish as its crew had hoped. To make more money, the crew decides to smuggle thirty illegal immigrants into Korea. But things don't go according to plan when the Jeonjinho encounters heavy fog, rain and waves on its return journey, while also being chased by a ship from the South Korean Maritime Police. On orders from the captain, several crew members hide the illegal immigrants inside the fishing tank, where they are in danger of suffocating to death. Amid the chaos, the youngest crew member Dong-sik tries to protect a young female migrant with whom he'd fallen in love.^[8]

Cast

• Kim Yoon-seok as Captain Cheol-joo
• Park Yoo-chun as Dong-sik
• Han Ye-ri as Hong-mae
• Lee Hee-joon as Chang-wook
• Moon Sung-keun as Chief engineer Wan-ho
• Kim Sang-ho as Boatswain Ho-young
• Yoo Seung-mok as Kyung-gu
• Jung In-gi as Oh-nam
• Kim Young-woong as Gil-soo
• Ye Soo-jung as Dong-shik's grandmother
• Yeom Hye-ran as Shipowner's wife

Production

Sea Fog is the first feature film directed by Shim Sung-bo, who co-wrote the screenplay of Memories of Murder with director Bong Joon-ho. Bong is this film's producer.^[9]

Kim Yoon-seok was first cast in the role of the ship's captain in June 2013. Song Joong-ki was originally offered to star opposite Kim,^[10] but had to turn down the role when he received his enlistment papers for mandatory military service. K-pop singer and actor Park Yoochun was cast instead in August 2013, in his big screen debut.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]} Filming began on October 6, 2013, with locations in Masan, Goyang, Busan and Ulsan,^[17] and ended on March 6, 2014.

Budgeted at US$10 million,^[18] the film was pitched for pre-sales at the American Film Market in November 2013.^[19][20][21] The first official press conference was held on July 1, 2014.^{[22][23][24][25]}

Box office

Sea Fog was released in South Korea on August 13, 2014. It reached 1,084,375 admissions after one week.^[26]

Critical reception

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 77% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 6.17/10.^[27] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[28] The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "A possible riveting nightmare fogged up by concessions to blockbuster conventions."^[29] It praised Hong Kyung-pyo's cinematography and Lee Ha-joon's production design as "effective in highlighting the differences between the lands of vast, cold port and the unforgiving environments of the sea and cramped insides of the fishing boat," but criticized director Shim Sung-bo's lack of subtlety and reflection, "with Haemoo subscribing to many of the conventions of both disaster epics and revenge drama, and the over-dependence of a central seaborne romance."^[29]

Variety wrote, "Turning a real-life human trafficking tragedy into a comment on social inequality and the cost of survival, Haemoo dramatizes a stark nautical ordeal fraught with tension. Produced and co-written by internationally recognized Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, The Host) this directing debut by helmer-scribe Shim Sung-bo echoes Bong's trademark cynical vision of human nature, but the characters lack dimensionality and psychological depth."^[30]

International release

Sea Fog made its international premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[31][32] It was also invited to the following:

• 2014 Toronto International Film Festival
• 2014 Vancouver International Film Festival
• 2014 San Sebastián International Film Festival
• 2014 Taoyuan International Film Festival
• 2014 Busan International Film Festival
• 2014 Fantastic Fest
• 2014 Festival du Film Coréen à Paris
• 2014 Hawaii International Film Festival
• 2014 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
• 2014 Stockholm International Film Festival
• 2014 London Korean Film Festival
• 2014 American Film Institute Festival
• 2014 Philippines Cinema One Originals Festival under the Asian Gem category
• 2014 Mar del Plata International Film Festival
• 2014 Madrid Premiere Week
• 2014 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
• 2014 Marrakech International Film Festival
• 2014 Filmasia Festival in Prague
• 2014 Dubai International Film Festival
• 2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 2015 Fantasporto Oporto International Film Festival
• 2015 Santa Barbara International Film Festival
• 2015 Annual Waimea Town Celebration
• 2015 New Directors/New Films Festival in New York City
• 2015 Florence Korea Film Festival in Italy
• 2015 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
• 2015 Beaune International Thriller Film Festival
• 2015 Art Film Fest in Slovakia

The film's rights were also pre-sold at the Cannes Film Market to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and France. Its Japanese release was scheduled for early 2015 while Taiwan and Singapore released the movie at the end of 2014.^[18]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2014	34th Hawaii International Film Festival[33]	Golden Orchid for Best Narrative Feature	Sea Fog	Won
	34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards[34][35]	Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
	51st Grand Bell Awards[36][37]	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Best New Director	Shim Sung-bo	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
		Best Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo	Nominated
		Best Lighting	Kim Chang-ho	Nominated
	15th Busan Film Critics Awards	Best New Director	Shim Sung-bo	Won
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
	4th SACF Beautiful Artists Awards	Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
	35th Blue Dragon Film Awards[38]	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Best New Director	Shim Sung-bo	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
		Best Screenplay	Shim Sung-bo, Bong Joon-ho	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo	Nominated
		Best Lighting	Kim Chang-ho	Nominated
		Best Art Direction	Lee Ha-jun	Won
	Star Night Showbiz Awards (Korea Film Actor's Association)	Popular Star Award	Park Yoochun	Won
	1st Korean Film Producers Association Awards	Best Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo	Won
2015	6th KOFRA Film Awards	Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
	10th Max Movie Awards	Best Actor	Park Yoochun	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
		Best Trailer	Sea Fog	Won
		Best Poster	Sea Fog	Nominated
	20th Chunsa Film Art Awards[39]	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Technical Award		Nominated
	9th Asian Film Awards[40]	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
	51st Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Won
		Best Screenplay	Shim Sung-bo, Bong Joon-ho	Nominated
	24th Buil Film Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Han Ye-ri	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Park Yoochun	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo	Won
		Best Art Direction	Lee Ha-jun	Nominated

See also

• List of submissions to the 87th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of South Korean submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

1. "Haemoo (Sea Fog)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
2. 해무. PlayDB (in Korean). Retrieved July 1, 2014.
3. Gluck, Caroline (October 10, 2001). "S Korea says sorry over dumped corpses". BBC News. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
4. Jung, Seung-ho (October 10, 2001). "Crew Members Closed the Exit of Net Storage". The Dong-A Ilbo. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
5. Frater, Patrick (September 22, 2014). "Korea Sets Sea Fog on Foreign-Language Oscar Course". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
6. Ford, Rebecca (January 14, 2015). "Oscar Nominations 2015: The Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
7. Rakhlin, Serge. "Foreign Language Films Compete For Golden Globe". Golden Globe Award. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
8. Ahn, Sung-mi (August 17, 2014). "Herald Review: Under the ocean, ugliest side of human desire". The Korea Herald. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
9. Conran, Pierce (May 29, 2013). "Bong Joon-ho to Set Sail as Producer with SEA FOG, Song Joong-ki in Talks to Star". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
10. Conran, Pierce (June 14, 2013). "Kim Yun-seok Climbs Aboard Bong Joon-ho Produced SEA FOG". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
11. Kang, Jung-yeon (August 20, 2013). "JYJ Yuchun Confirms Big Screen Debut". TenAsia. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
12. Ha, Ji-won (July 29, 2014). "JYJ's Park Yoo-chun talks about love-making scene in Sea Fog". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
13. Lee, So-dam (August 3, 2014). "Interview: JYJ Park Yoo Chun Makes Another Leap Through Film Sea Fog". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
14. Lim, Ju-ri (August 7, 2014). "JYJ's Park makes big-screen debut". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
15. Lee, Ji-yeong (September 3, 2014). "K-wave Actor PARK Yoo-chun: Look How He Starts Up". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
16. Choi, Song-hee (September 3, 2014). "Interview: Sea Fog's Park Yoo Chun, Actor Beyond Expectations". BNTNews. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
17. Tae, Sang-joon (October 8, 2013). "SEA FOG Goes into Production". Korean Film Council. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
18. Frater, Patrick (February 7, 2014). "Berlin: Finecut Adds Night Flight, Sells Sea Fog". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
19. Kim, Nemo (October 30, 2013). "AFM: Bong Joon-ho Backs Shim's Shipwreck Tale Haemoo". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
20. Cremin, Stephen (October 30, 2013). "Finecut takes Sea Fog and Obsessed for AFM". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on November 16, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
21. Tae, Sang-joon (June 2, 2014). "Bong Joon Ho-Produced SEA FOG to Open in August". Korean Film Council. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
22. An, So-hyoun (July 1, 2014). "JYJ Park Yoo Chun Shares on Filming His First Movie Sea Fog". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
23. An, So-hyoun (July 1, 2014). "Kim Yoon Suk Says JYJ Park Yoo Chun Will Have Long Acting Career". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
24. Kim, Min-jin (July 2, 2014). "Director praises Park Yoo-chun over acting in Sea Fog". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
25. Sunwoo, Carla (July 3, 2014). "Sea-themed movies set to make their maiden voyages". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
26. Kim, Min-jin (August 20, 2014). "Actors of Sea Fog celebrate surpassing 1m viewers". The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
27. "Sea Fog (Haemoo) (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
28. "Sea Fog Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
29. Tsui, Clarence (September 6, 2014). "Haemoo: Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
30. Lee, Maggie (September 10, 2014). "Toronto Film Review: Haemoo". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
31. Conran, Pierce (July 23, 2014). "SEA FOG Lands Gala Spot in Toronto". Korean Film Council. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
32. "Sea Fog Invited to Toronto Film Festival". The Chosun Ilbo. July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
33. Conran, Pierce (November 13, 2014). "Top Honors for HAEMOO in Hawaii". Korean Film Council. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
34. Conran, Pierce (November 4, 2014). "Top Honors for HILL OF FREEDOM at 34th Korean Film Critics Association Awards". Korean Film Council. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
35. Chung, Joo-won (November 14, 2014). "Park Yu-chun snags Rookie Actor Award at KAF". K-Pop Herald. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
36. Kim, June (November 12, 2014). "The 51st Daejong Film Awards Nominations Announced". Korean Film Council. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
37. "Park Yoo-chun wins best new male award". K-Pop Herald. November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
38. Kim, June (December 18, 2014). "35th Blue Dragon Awards Names THE ATTORNEY Best Film". Korean Film Council. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
39. Ma, Kevin (March 9, 2015). "Hard Day leads Chunsa Film Art nominations". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
40. Yoon, Ina (March 4, 2015). "Korean Films and Artists Nominated for the Asian Film Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved March 19, 2015.

External links

• Sea Fog at IMDb
• Sea Fog at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
• Sea Fog at HanCinema