Roh to Give Dear Leader a Copy of ‘D-War’

by Robert Koehler on September 19, 2007

So, what do you give the Stalinist dictator who has everything?

Well, if you’re the Roh administration, you give him a home theater — complete with large flat-screen TV — and a copy of “D-War.”

Talking to the Hanguk Ilbo, a South Korean government source said the government is strongly considering giving North Korean leader Kim Jong-il a home theater as a gift during the upcoming intra-Korean summit. He also said KJI would likely receive copies of some Korean films, including the much-talked-about “D-War.”

When asked whether large flat-screen TVs were included on the US Department of Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which includes a list of strategic items banned for export to North Korea, the source said he understood they weren’t.

Said the Hanguk Ilbo:

It is appears flat-screen TVs were considered because they are symbolic as a “representative product of the Republic of Korea,” with the world’s top-class technology, while “D-War,” featuring dragons and imugi as its chief subject matter and winning great success in the United States, signifies “Taking the world by storm with a Korean traditional subject.”

Like North Korea didn’t have enough crappy monster movies.

I also take it “Team America” has not been added to the gift list.

Anyway, “D-War” distributor Showbox says it hasn’t gotten any official requests from the government, but it would consider producing a special DVD title if asked.

In case you were wondering, Kim Dae-jung presented the Dear Leader with a pair of Jindo dogs during the first summit in 2000. KJI reciprocated by gifting DJ with a pair of Pungsan dogs.

{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }

1 mins0306 September 19, 2007 at 11:39 am

The SK government “donated” Polycomm (U.S. brand) video conferencing equipment, which to my knowledge are on the no export to NK list, to the NK government so they can have the on-line family reunions, so the SK government already broke that rule.

From the above, it looks Roh will get a copy of Pulgasari and a 20-ish inch CRT color (or maybe B/W) TV with the channel fixers in place.

2 Iceberg September 19, 2007 at 11:50 am

Looks like Roh’s aimin’ to get laid. A fancy gift (the home theater) coupled with a movie that Kim won’t be able to watch to the end.

3 slim September 19, 2007 at 11:56 am

Wouldn’t that be an insult to Kim?

4 Robert Koehler September 19, 2007 at 11:57 am

Wouldn’t that be an insult to Kim?

You’d think so, right? I mean, if there’s anyone on the planet that would recognize a shitty film when he saw it…

5 Iceberg September 19, 2007 at 12:01 pm

Kim: Dude, this movie’s shit. I can’t watch any more of it.

Roh: In that case, why don’t you slide up next to me and we can compare weapons?

The rest is censored for the children reading this blog.

6 Alex September 19, 2007 at 12:16 pm

I declare Iceberg the winner of this thread.

7 WangKon936 September 19, 2007 at 12:51 pm

From what I heard, D-War is a dorky, nonsensical, childish, corny, grandiose movie with an inflated opinion of itself which is why it is inadvertently funny. Why wouldn’t a megalomaniac dictator not like a movie like that?

8 arthjourneyman September 19, 2007 at 1:06 pm

Nah you guys, knowing full well KJI’s health condition, Roh probably plans to get him to have a heart attack from watching the film. Quite crafty, that Roh…

9 Wedge September 19, 2007 at 1:15 pm

Giving D-War is a brilliant way to soothe Little Elvis’s ego. It’ll make Pulgasari look like a masterpiece in comparison.

10 Wedge September 19, 2007 at 1:24 pm

Here’s a challenge: Secure the gift D-War DVD in advance and overwrite it with Team America. I’ll chip in W1,000,000 to whoever pulls it off.

11 mins0306 September 19, 2007 at 1:25 pm

#7.

WangKon936, I was thinking the same thing.

12 sanshinseon September 19, 2007 at 1:49 pm

I do idly wonder if Lil’ Elvis has in fact ever watched “Team America” — I’d bet he has. I bought a DVD of it…

13 SomeguyinKorea September 19, 2007 at 3:24 pm

I can already see the headlines: “Kim Jong Il praises South Korean movie industry after viewing D-war”.

14 robert neff September 19, 2007 at 3:47 pm

Considering that KJI has always been accused of having a huge porno collection he will probably appreciate the luxury of viewing it in the comfort of his new home theater. Courtesy of the new Sunshine policy. Word of warning – just don’t shake his hand.

15 mins0306 September 19, 2007 at 9:46 pm

Considering KJI has a huge porno collection, maybe Roh should give him a video of the Yale faker being banged by some high ranking ajussi.

16 mins0306 September 19, 2007 at 9:59 pm

My mistake; Assuming KJI has a huge porno collection.

17 ●~* September 20, 2007 at 1:40 am

Here’s a comic on what will happen after the gift.

http://gall.dcinside.com/list.php?id=dwar&no=114146

18 pawikirogi September 20, 2007 at 4:51 am

the guy at salon.com called you obsessed with seeing the failure of ‘d war’. he must not have seen bever’s coverage of the movie at occi. can we say ‘proxy’?

how’s your new job going, gerry. ?

19 virtual wonderer September 20, 2007 at 5:28 am

all it is, is another reminder to KJI how hopelessly behind he is.

This guy spent his entire life studying propaganda and information control.

To date, DPRK’s best action flick is Hong Gil Dong or Bulgasari.

As crappy as South Korean actions flicks are, the special effects alone will impress KJI. Watching it on a South Korean flat panel HDTV will remind him of the sure futility of trying to unify the country under communism.

20 SomeguyinKorea September 20, 2007 at 12:09 pm

“the guy at salon.com called you obsessed with seeing the failure of ‘d war’.”

Dude, that’s not what he wrote.

21 pawikirogi September 20, 2007 at 4:40 pm

‘Dude, that’s not what he wrote.’ seoulsomething

You’re right, he said:

‘obsessively monitoring sales figures..’

It’s interesting I concluded Marmot was obsessed with the failure of D War while the Salon guy concluded Marmot was obsessed with its sales figures. Both statements really mean the same thing. Just said in two different ways.

PS the only other guy I could find obsessed with D War’s failure was gerry bevers. Who would have thought that bevers and Marmot would ever be in the same bed together?

22 Robert Koehler September 20, 2007 at 5:37 pm

you’re right, he said:

‘obsessively monitoring sales figures..’

Here’s what he actually said:

But I do think the Times might have been a little overenthusiastic. Since there is, of course, a South-Korean based blogger obsessively monitoring the critical reaction to “Dragon Wars” –

I believe there are remedial reading courses to help with that problem, pawikirogi.

23 wjk September 20, 2007 at 5:50 pm

Men, Mr. Shim is already saying his “success” in Korea and America has led his decision to make D-War II.

I don’t know…

Mr. Shim is obsessed with snakes and snakes becoming dragons. Every single movie was about snakes and dragons.

Damn. Even though I haven’t seen any of your movies, can you please try something new, huh, Shim?

24 slim September 20, 2007 at 6:38 pm

“I believe there are remedial reading courses to help with that problem, pawikirogi.”

I remember writing that same sentiment 3 year years ago at the Hole when a chap Shin Jong-il was seriously misfiring on his comments.

25 iheartblueballs September 20, 2007 at 6:43 pm

I’m quite confident that with only 5-6 more attempts, the odds of pawi understanding what was actually said in the Salon blog (as opposed to what he wishes were said) are at least even money.

26 slim September 20, 2007 at 6:59 pm

Maybe he hates English teachers because they failed him at a formative stage in his life.

27 dda September 20, 2007 at 7:42 pm

[...] at a formative stage in his life.

That’s the point really. Had there only been a formative stage in his pitiful life…

28 pawikirogi September 21, 2007 at 3:34 am

yeah, can’t get my point, huh? two different people in two different parts of the world could see your obsession with such a trivial movie. rather than saying that isn’t true, you quip about quotes. tsk, tsk, tsk…..

29 pawikirogi September 21, 2007 at 4:26 am

‘Maybe he hates English teachers because they failed him at a formative stage in his life.’ slim

I’m just trying to make your average expat a better person. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

30 Janus September 21, 2007 at 7:58 am

At least Roh will stand up for at least ONE North Korean’s right to see South Korean media…

31 dda September 21, 2007 at 9:49 am

I’m just trying to make your average expat a better person. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

Indeed. Start with yourself. Lots of work there.

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