Hanran Premieres in New York, Bringing the Story of Jeju 4.3 to an International Audience

NYAFF Official Selection Highlights the Universal Values of Peace, Reconciliation, and Human Rights

NEW YORK — K-Verse | Cindy M. Jang

The feature film Hanran, inspired by the history of the Jeju 4.3 Incident, made its New York premiere on July 12 at Walter Reade Theater inside Film at Lincoln Center as an official selection of the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

The screening followed the opening of the Jeju 4.3 International Special Exhibition, allowing audiences to first explore the historical background of the Jeju 4.3 Incident before experiencing the story through film. The combination of exhibition and cinema offered visitors a deeper understanding of one of the most significant chapters in modern Korean history.

Before the screening, director Ha Myung-mi and actress Kim Hyang-gi greeted the audience and introduced the film. Acclaimed filmmaker Jung Ji-young also attended the event, joining guests in commemorating the international presentation of Jeju 4.3 through cinema.

The event drew distinguished guests, including Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, Consul General Kim Sang-ho of the Republic of Korea in New York, Lee Myung-seok, President of the New York Korean Association, Esther Lee, Chair of the Association’s Board of Directors, Lee Si-hwa, President of the New York Chapter of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, representatives of Korean-American organizations, film industry professionals, and members of the local community.

Following the screening, audiences responded with warm applause and participated in a conversation with the filmmakers. Many attendees expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn about the Jeju 4.3 Incident through the powerful medium of film, emphasizing that the story’s themes of remembrance, reconciliation, and human dignity resonate far beyond Korea.

As an official selection of the 25th New York Asian Film Festival, Hanran introduces international audiences to the historical legacy of Jeju 4.3 while demonstrating how cinema can preserve memory, encourage dialogue, and promote universal values of peace and human rights.

The Jeju 4.3 International Special Exhibition continues through July 16 at Film at Lincoln Center, while another NYAFF official selection connected to Jeju 4.3, My Name Is, is scheduled to screen on July 16 at 4:00 p.m.

K-Verse covered both the exhibition opening and the New York premiere of Hanran, documenting how history, culture, and film came together to share the story of Jeju 4.3 with a global audience.

Reporting & Photos by Cindy M. Jang | K-Verse