The second story of the Netflix documentary 'I am God', 'I am a survivor', examines the structural harms in our society through the stories of survivors who were present at four incidents that shook South Korea.
'I am a survivor' is a documentary series that records the voices of those who survived four horrific incidents that shocked South Korea, and the stories of that day that must not be repeated.
Director Jo Sung-hyun and the production team captured the voices of survivors vividly through two years of in-depth research. You can encounter the real stories that no one knew within events that everyone thinks they know.
The released main trailer contains the ongoing pain of Maple, who revealed her face through 'I am God' in 2023 and fought against the leader of JMS (Christian Gospel Mission), Jung Myung-seok.
Maple fiercely struggled against the threat of a massive power trying to protect JMS and Jung Myung-seok, as well as uncomfortable gazes. An interview with Maple reveals that 21 victims, inspired by their courage in 'I am God', sued Jung Myung-seok, and another victim's testimony about "the day I was first victimized in 8th grade" is shocking.
"Season 2 will deal with minors. We must stop this, everyone. It ends. We," says Jung Jo-eun, the second-in-command of JMS, followed by someone tailing the production team, and the appearance of a police officer who is a member of JMS, tracking down 'the truth they want to hide'. This series reflects on how our society and public power have sheltered unjust forces through the struggles of Maple against the still-operating JMS.
It's not just JMS. 'I am a survivor' contains a total of 8 episodes covering four incidents. Through the voices of survivors who were present in those four hells, it warns of the ongoing and potentially repeating tragedies of the future.
"The story we tell every week is that you are human trash," and even after 40 years, the cries of survivors from the Busan Brothers Home, who still live in pain, are desperate. It examines how public power has condoned crimes in the worst human rights violation incident in modern Korean history, where thousands died or went missing due to illegal exercise of public power.
"I am filled with resentment for not being able to kill the people I really want to kill," and through the Jisunpa incident, where a murder factory was built out of hatred for the wealthy, it explores how people pushed to the brink by our society became monsters and hears the courage of survivors who prevented the serial murders.
The collapse of the Sampoong Department Store is the worst man-made disaster caused by poor construction, corruption, and the irresponsibility of supervisory agencies. "I think it's something we must not forget. Especially for those who lost their children, is this a thing of the past for them?" This question from a survivor of the Sampoong Department Store disaster highlights the painful structural harms that have led to repeated tragedies in our society.
Director Jo Sung-hyun of 'I am a survivor' stated, "The four most tragic incidents in South Korea are not concluded in the past but are ongoing," and "Under the protection of our society's system and public power, incidents with different names and locations are being repeated. In a world where human beings have become the least valuable option, 'I am a survivor' is not a documentary that records the past but a warning about the coming world and future tragedies."
The real stories conveyed by survivors in four ongoing tragedies, and the sharp questions posed to our society, 'I am a survivor' will be released on Netflix on August 15.
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
