Korean Film Council Denies Historical Distortion Controversy Surrounding Korea-Japan Film ‘Tamako’ After Korean Actors Decline Offer
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has addressed the controversy surrounding “Tamako,” a Korea-Japan co-production selected for its international co-production support program, stating the film “has nothing to do with historical distortion or controversy,” after Korean actors declined offers to appear in it.
A KOFIC international industry team official confirmed on September 28 that “Tamako” was indeed among the nine films selected for the 2026 second-half international co-production pilot program.
“Tamako” tells the story of a Japanese boy who lost his parents in the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bombing, follows a Korean resident of Japan back to Korea, and searches for his identity while living through the Korean War. Because the film touches on the historical backdrop of Japan’s wars of aggression and colonial rule while also depicting a Japanese atomic bomb survivor’s story, some online had raised concerns over how the historical events would be portrayed.
The KOFIC official said, “It’s true ‘Tamako’ deals with historical events, but it’s completely unrelated to historical distortion — all five judges found no cause for controversy,” adding, “Anyone who has seen director Sakamoto Junji’s previous work will clearly understand.”
Sakamoto Junji, who is directing the film, is considered a leading figure of the Japanese New Wave and one of Japan’s foremost socially conscious directors, known for powerfully yet delicately portraying the lives of society’s marginalized. His credits include the Korea-Japan co-production “KT,” based on the Kim Dae Jung kidnapping incident, as well as “Children of the Dark” and “Okiku and the World.” He is also well known in Korea for his close ties with Korean directors.
Regarding the film’s message, the KOFIC official explained it “shows what role art can play in human relationships, and carries a message that all of us living in the present must coexist and move forward together,” adding, “It’s unfortunate that a film that hasn’t even been made yet is facing misunderstanding based on such fragmentary information.”
The controversy erupted after it was revealed that actors Shim Eun Kyung, WOODZ, and Japanese actress Ando Sakura would appear in the film. Some online users then raised concerns over the historical perspective of a work centered on the Hiroshima bombing.
It has since been confirmed that the Korean side had already declined the offer. WOODZ addressed the matter during a livestream on September 27, saying, “After receiving the script and understanding its contents, I passed it along to my agency. While we were carefully considering it, we declined — but the report came out in the meantime.” Shim Eun Kyung’s side also confirmed she received an offer on September 28 but ultimately decided not to appear.
“Tamako” is co-produced by Korea’s Jin Pictures and Japan’s Central Arts. KOFIC’s international co-production support program provides funding to feature films with a net production budget under 2 billion won, where each country’s investment share is at least 20%. KOFIC’s board finalized the selection results on August 28.
According to a notice from the Kyoto City Media Support Center, “Tamako” is set to begin filming in Kyoto this November, with a target release in fall 2027.
Source: (A)
