<A Splendid Outing>

Director : Kim Su-Yong
Starring : Yoon Jung-hee, Lee Dae-keun, Lee Young-ha, Kim Jeong-ran
Location Sites : Tongyeong City, South Gyeongsang Province

Film Information

Kim Su-yong adapted Kim Yong-seong's novel to make the film <A Splendid Outing> (Hwalyeohan oechul). The film is always mentioned as one of Kim's representative works during the 1970s along with <Night Journey> (Yahaeng). Kim often worked with actress Yun Jeong-hui. who displayed an intelligent image, and he reflected his ego upon her. 'Anguished intellectuals (or petit bourgeois)' have been the pivotal characters of many Korean movies, from Cheol-ho of <Aimless bullet (Obaltan)> to Yeong-ho of <A Peppermint Candy (Bakasatang)>. On the other hand, a woman intellectual agonizing over self-identity or contemporary social issues has rarely appeared in films. However, Yun Jeong-hui's starring role in <A Splendid Outing> (Hwalyeohan oechul) was just such a rare female character. Yong-bin of <Kim's Daughters> (Kimyakguk-ui Ttaldeul) is another such example. In general, Korean films in the 1970s are not as valued on the level of those made in the 1960's. Director Kim Su-yong was also not recognized for his works during the 1970s. Even though <A Splendid Outing> (Hwalyeohan oechul) has been regarded as a well-made film, it has many problems and is more acclaimed as a work reflecting the critical mindset of that time regarding the modernization of Korean society. In particular, this film is a little short on originality in that it failed to go beyond the issue explored in his other film, <Mist> (Angae), made in 1967, which film historian Lee Yeong-il noted for "Kim Su-yong's excellent singing." In the late 1970s, so-called 'literary films' hardly lived up to the public's expectations and were only kept afloat by government support. Of them, some films like <I-eoh Island (I-eodo)> by Kim Gi-yeong were quite creative. But <A Splendid Outing> (Hwalyeohan oechul), a typical, formulaic film, seemed to exist during that period as "a film for a film festival."



Synopsis

Suffering from absentmindedness and the chaos of an extremely hectic schedule, a successful business woman, Gong Do-hui, one day hears of her former life from a fortune teller. She suddenly drives a car out to the highway, arrives in a city, meets a mad woman, who then guides her in embarking on a 'splendid outing.' There, she comes to live with Yong Dal-ho who calls himself her husband and a seven-year-old daughter. She finally escapes by secretly rowing a boat to sea. Back in Seoul, nobody is aware of her. She goes up to the rooftop of the building where she worked, and throws herself to the ground. She opens her eyes surrounded by sudden silence. She is back in her car as the car once again enters the highway - a topsy-turvy situation.

Location of Shooting

Gong Do-hui (played by Yun Jeong-hui) of <A Splendid Outing> is a businesswoman and a woman of some social standing. The beginning and end of the film were shot mainly in Seoul as they feature her life in that city. Yokji Island is where she makes her fantastic trip. One day, she is drawn to the island and finds herself playing the role of wife to a violent island man. Gong departs to Samyeo, consisting of cliffs of curious rocks, in a boat in order to escape to Seoul in the movie. Today you can approach Samyeo only by boat, and observation platforms, where you can appreciate the fantastic rock cliffs, stand on the side of the seashore roads.

General Information

Yokji Island is 14.95 sq. meters and away 30km by waterway from Tongyeong Port in the South Sea. As the island has a relatively large agricultural space, inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and fishery in equal proportions. In most cases, farm produce is cultivated in agricultural spaces. Chestnut sweet potato is a famous special product of this island for its nutrition and taste.

Directions

Take a ferry to Yokji Island from Tongyeong Passenger Ship Terminal or Samdeok in Tongyeong City.

Nearby Attractions

There are Deokdong and Yudong Beaches whose fields are filled with pebbles, not sand. And Samyeo's rock islands make a fantastic landscape. Seashore rocks are known as good fishing places attracting many fishing lovers.