The Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥)

After the second world war

the division of Korea was the greatest tragedy and by-product

of the conflict between the US and the USSR in Asia.

The cold war era has promoted the conflict within Korea

and brought about the formation of

two separate government that were both hostile

and had completely different ideologies to each other.

The Taebaek Mountains

1948 Oct 20th 01:10

Beol-gyo police station, Bo-seong district, South Jeon-la province

Yes, this is Beol-gyo police station.

Gwang-ju provincial police?

Keep up the good work!

Young men's association here.

What's the matter? It's quite late now.

Chief of inspection?

He left the office early in the evening.

What?

There has been a revolt in Yeo-soo?

Oct 20th 01:20 the rebellion enters the city of Yeo-soo Move it, you fools!

Oct 20th 01:20 the rebellion enters the city of Yeo-soo We won't be long, sir.

What on earth is happening?

To end things quickly in Island Jeju,

the Yeo-soo regiment was scheduled to be dispatched

but it started a rebellion.

A rebellion?

At the moment, all police forces are being assembled

in Soon-chun police department

and are beginning to take actions

so there'll be nothing serious.

Oct 20th 08:30 The rebellion engages in battle

with 500 policemen in front of Soon-Chun station

The fourth regiment of Gwang-ju is taking action as we speak.

It's a matter of time that the riot is over.

Therefore, stop worrying and please go back.

Chief!

Soon-Chun has just fallen to the rebellion

- Look! It's the soldiers! - Soldiers!

- Hi! Look here! - Hi!

Oct 20th 16:30 One infantry company of the rebel army enters Beol-gyo

Yes, we have just arrived at Beol-gyo.

This place had already been seized by our fellow comrades.

Sergeant Park has gone to Gwang-ju passing Bo-seong.

My units are currently advancing to Jang-heung and Go-heung.

Yes, I'll report again soon.

I can only imagine the all kinds of hardship you went through.

Now that your patriotic army has freed us,

the hardship we went through is nothing.

Kim Sa-yong is an evil landowner

who has exploited the people and therefore

I believe that his fortunes need to be confiscated

and that he must be executed. What do you all think?

He may be a landowner

but he isn't the enemy of the people.

He's been kind to his tenants and

supplied funds for independency.

Let him live!

People, I agree with his statement.

Even though one is a landlord, they should not all be killed.

What do you think?

- Let him live! - I agree!

- I agree! - Don't kill him!

Oct 22nd 00:00 Yeo-Soon is under mania! law Attention!

Oct 22nd 00:00 Yeo-Soon is under mania! law All into the car!

Oct 23rd 11:00 Soon-chun is recaptured.

Soon-chun has been taken.

What!

The HQ has retreated to Mt. Jiri.

We are going to join them there.

What is your army going to do?

If you were going to be a communist

why did you ever get married at first place?

Or abandon your children.

How am I going to raise them alone?

I thought my hard days were over.

But you came back after 2 years

and before even 5 days, you are being chased off again!

Mother,

go to my brother's house.

I'm no sure.

I have two sons, but I always have something to worry about.

Who would have ever imagine?

My two sons are shooting at each other...

Mother,

I'm leaving

Be careful, my son.

So, where are you planning going to go?

I'm not sure.

Now that you leave,

will I see you again while alive?

Fools!

Going to fly by night in less than 10 days anyway,

you come and kill people that cruelly.

In 70 years of my life,

I have never seen anyone win over anything

that the government does not approve.

What did you just say?

How am I suppose to live without you?

Do you think that I want to leave you like this?

Why are you going then?

Why don't you just hide so that they can't find you?

It's an order from above, I have no choice.

I'm going.

Take good care of Sang-il.

Wait!

Although it's warm here, in the mountains it will be cold.

Take good care of our son.

Pray to the gods for my safe return.

The rebellion's main force retreats to Mt. Beak-woon and Mt. Jiri.

The country communists hide in nearby mountains.

200 from Beol-gyo and 300 from Bo-seong fled to the mountains.

Oct 24th 13:00 Reclamation of Beol-gyo

The rascals brutally killed many.

According to the reports from this morning,

over a hundred

The communists attacked us first,

now it's our turn.

- Hurry! - Run!

- There, Stop! - I said stop!

Forgive me, father.

You went through so much

and I wasn't here for you.

Every landlord put to trial were killed.

I thank Yeom Sang-jin.

By putting my father on trial,

Sang-jin probably had two reasons.

By saving my father, he can show that the trial is fair.

Also, he repaid his debt of education fund in this way.

He always gets two results by one.

However there is something he forgot.

He may think that he saved father's life,

however he brutally murdered his spirit.

Orders have come from clique.

To prepare for the mountain combat,

reorganize the army and come up with measures for the winter.

This order was necessary,

due to the exposure of the clique.

I also regret exposing the town organizations.

I have overestimated the situation.

It is my decisive mistake.

I believe it's the clique that made a mistake

by thinking that this is the right time.

This battle was held only by the 14th regiment

and the clique participated without informing to HQ.

Comrade Ahn!

The clique is always sacred, wise,

and must not be criticized.

There must be no doubt of distrust.

Intellectuals, like Comrade Ahn, must remember this.

Nov. 1st 00:00 The mania! law is expanded to all Jeon-la province

89 related to Yeo-soon are executed

Nov. 3rd to 11th The Government arrests 3293 people related to Yeo-Soon

Nov. 19th 700 from the Partisan raid Gu-rae stationed 12th regiment

I am commander in charge.

I am Choi Dal-sik of security.

This is our chief.

Thank you for coming so far.

Thank you, sir.

This is the mayor of the town Lee Byeong-joo.

Thank you for your trouble.

Thank you, sir.

I am the head of investigation, Jang Gil-chun.

My name is Lee Man-su.

He is the head of inspection, Yeom Sang-gu.

He's in charge due to the chief's wish.

This is the chairman of the Bo-seong clique, Yeom Sang-jin.

He graduated from Gwang-ju teacher's school.

In the Japanese colonial times, he rallied tenants

and was arrested to serve in jail for a year.

After independence, he was a communist to the core

and entered the mountain squad and became the leader.

Recently he came out of there but has come back soon.

He is familiar with the theory of communism

and very clever.

A more specific details would be given to you by head Yeom

as they are brothers.

What? You know that I can't stand it

when it comes to that son of a bitch brother!

If that son of a bitch was a cop, then I would be a communist!

That's how much I hate him, so don't ask any questions.

Next, Ha Dae-chi.

The most trusted confidant of Yeom Sang-jin.

They acted together even before the independence.

Although simple minded, he is a communist to the bone.

Next, Ahn Chang-min.

He is a teacher of the Puk elementary school.

During Yeom's absence,

he was in charge of the town's communist group.

This time he has shown his true colors.

- Next, Kim In-seok. - What does this list based on?

It was made based on the statement

given by the locals who stayed during the chaos.

What are you talking about?

The ones remaining is just as well a communist.

How can you believe them?

I can't believe any of this.

I want every locals to be assembled

in the Puk elementary school at once.

We start from the beginning.

Wait a minute!