Jaqueline Perez Gamboa

Junior Editor, GSIS Newsletter

What does democracy look like when it is not a reality? 

1987: When the Day Comes, directed by Jang Joon-Hwan, does not only answer this question, it brings to life the raw tensions, layered storytelling, and striking historical accuracy through the screen. For GSIS students trying to understand South Korea beyond headlines or textbooks, this film is a must-watch.

Set during a crucial moment in modern Korean history, the film portraits real-life events that fueled the June Democratic Uprising. After Park Jong-Cheol, an activist student, dies under police interrogation and torture, a chain of resistance begins; prosecutors, journalists, activists, students, and everyday citizens joint to exposure the truth and demanding a change. The result was a people-powered movement that eventually pushed the authoritarian regime to release the June 29th Declaration and hold direct democratic elections.

Along the film, the spectator witnesses the experiences of people who confront the idea to remain silent or resist. As the tension built, so did the collective for justice, each act of defiance broke through the state’s censorship and ignited the streets with protests. The film culminates with the assassination of Lee Han-Yeol, Yonsei University student, shot during one of the demonstrations. His death became the final spark that transformed the protests into an unstoppable and massive resistance. The visual intensity of the scene, drawn from actual historical footage and photographs, amplifies the emotional weight of the film and reinforces Jang Joon-Hwan’s aim to keep this memory alive to future generations.

As Yonsei GSIS students, this film helps contextualize what democracy meant for Koreans in the 1980s, and how hard it was to win. Watching this film is not just a cinematic experience, it is a reminder that democracy is built and defended by people, and sometimes, at a real high cost. The GSIS Newsletter team invites you to watch 1987 When the Day Comes, and reflect on Korea’s path to democracy.

1987: When the Day Comes is available on Netflix with English subtitles, as well as on local online streaming platforms like Tving and Wavve.