The history of torture brought to light again by Lee Geun-an’s death

As Lee Geun-an, who was called a 'torture technician', passed away at the age of 88 on the 25th, director Jeong Ji-young's film <Namyeong-dong 1985> (2012) is being talked about again. Geun-an Lee is the real-life model of 'Du-han Lee', a torture technician who appears as the main villain in this movie.

The film depicts the brutal torture suffered by Kim Jong-tae, a democracy activist, in the anti-communist branch office in Namyeong-dong in 1985, during the Chun Doo-hwan regime, when he was arrested by the police while returning from a bathhouse. Lee Doo-han, known as ‘The Undertaker’, appears and gives Kim Jong-tae a trauma that can never be erased for the rest of his life. In the play, Lee Doo-han leaves a creepy line, “When the world changes, then catch me and torture me.”

Actual victim Kim Geun-tae died from aftereffects of torture

Kim Jong-tae's real-life model in the movie is the late Kim Geun-tae, a former Democratic Party lawmaker. His autobiography vividly records the reality of torture at the time. "To make the electric torture easier, water was sprinkled on the head, chest, and groin, and a power source was connected to the feet. While the electric torture was going on, light and short at first, then gradually stronger and longer, alternating between strong and weak, the shadow of death was just around the corner."

Former lawmaker Kim recalled in his lecture, "Whenever I heard other people crying, I was able to fall asleep with a sense of relief, thinking, 'It won't be me today.' At the same time, I didn't even know that my soul was collapsing." He passed away in 2011 from the aftereffects of torture and imprisonment.

Lee Kyung-young “I hoped you would apologize”… Lee Geun-an ultimately refuses to reflect.

Actor Lee Gyeong-yeong, who played the role of Lee Doo-han in the movie, said at the time of its release, "I hope Inspector Lee Geun-an sees this movie." He added, "I think there is room for someone who has even taken a pastor's class to repent for their sins. I hope they will watch this movie and sincerely ask for understanding and forgiveness from their family. What a beautiful sight it would be to open a new era."

However, Lee Geun-an never apologized during his lifetime. In December 2012, about a month after the film's release, he claimed in an interview with the media that his acts of torture had been exaggerated. “The ‘Chilsungpan’ was only used on two people,” he said, adding, “In the movie, water was poured from a hose, but in reality, a towel soaked in water was used to make breathing difficult.”

The scars of democratization history are still ongoing

In <Namyeong-dong 1985>, talented actors such as Park Won-sang (as Kim Jong-tae), Lee Gyeong-yeong (as Lee Doo-han), Kim Eui-seong (as Manager Kang), and Dong Bang-woo (as Director Park) appeared and realistically recreated the horrors of the military dictatorship era. With Lee Geun-an's death, the issue of clearing up past history and the responsibility of the perpetrators is once again rising to the surface.