# Nation and Destiny

Nation and Destiny (Korean: 민족과 운명; RR: Minjokgwa ummyeong; MR: Minjokkua unmyŏng) is a 62-part North Korean film series released between 1992 and 2002. It aims to show that the Korean people "can live a glorious life only in the bosom of the Great Leader and socialist fatherland". Kim Jong Il personally chose the title and was extensively involved in the early episodes. Conceived as the largest film series ever produced in any country, it was the largest investment ever made in the history of North Korean cinema. Initially, the most senior writers, directors and actors were involved in the project and it was heavily promoted by the North Korean media. The series was projected to reach 100 episodes, but none have been released since 2002.
Nation and Destiny is notable for its scenes set in the West and South Korea, some of which even filmed on location in western countries not officially at war with North Korea, such as France. It is also noteworthy for its portrayal of the "anti-system figure" Han Sorya, who was purged in the 1960s by Kim Il Sung, in a positive role. This was the first time that an "anti-system figure" has been portrayed heroically on the North Korean screen. According to defectors' testimony, North Korean audiences were engrossed by its depiction of First World affluence.

## Synopsis

* Parts 1–4 were based on the life of Choe Deok-sin
* Parts 5–8 were based on the life of Isang Yun
* Parts 9–13 were based on the life of Choi Hong Hi
* Parts 14–16 were based on the life of Ri In-mo
* Parts 17–19 were based on the life of Ho Jong-suk
* Parts 20–25 were based on the life of naturalized Japanese women, including Rim Un-jong (Izumi Kiyoshi)
* Parts 26–36 were based on the life of workers
* Parts 46–51 were based on the life of Choe Hyon
* Parts 52–60 were based on the life of people past, present and future across generations
* Parts 61–62 were based on the life of peasants

## Part list

Some parts are said to be censored, as they were not aired on television during chronological airings of the series. Days where a censored part was to be aired featured a regular film until a non-censored part was scheduled to air. As they are censored, information on their creative staff is also unknown. Other films including the series Unsung Heroes have been censored during the transition of power from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un.
| Episode | Subject | Main Scriptwriter | Main Director | Photography | Music | Main Actors | Main Studio |
| 1 | Choe Deok Sin | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | Choe Chang Su, Jon Jae Yon, Kim Ok Hui | Korean Film Studio |
| 2 | Choe Deok Sin | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Choe Chang Su, Kim Ok Hui, Pak Ku Ju | Korean Film Studio |
| 3 | Choe Deok Sin | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Choe Chang Su, Kim Jun Sik, Kim Ryong Rin | Korean Film Studio |
| 4 | Choe Deok Sin | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Choe Chang Su, Kim Jun Sik, Kim Ryong Rin | Korean Film Studio |
| 5 | Isang Yun | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | So Kyong Sop, So Jin Hyang, Pak Yong Mi | Korean Film Studio |
| 6 | Isang Yun | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | So Kyong Sop, So Jin Hyang, Pak Hyo Sin | Korean Film Studio |
| 7 | Isang Yun | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | So Kyong Sop, So Jin Hyang, Pak Hyo Sin | Korean Film Studio |
| 8 | Isang Yun | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | So Kyong Sop, So Jin Hyang, Pak Hyo Sin | Korean Film Studio |
| 9 | Choi Hong Hi | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | Pak Ki Ju, Kim Jong Hwa, O Mi-ran | Korean Film Studio |
| 10 | Choi Hong Hi | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | Pak Ki Ju, Kim Jong Hwa, O Mi-ran | Korean Film Studio |
| 11 | Hong Yong Ja | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | Pak Ki Ju, O Mi-ran, Kim Jong Hwa | Korean Film Studio |
| 12 | Hong Yong Ja | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Jong Ik Han | Ri Jong O | O Mi-ran, Kim Jong Un, Ri Sol Hui | Korean Film Studio |
| 13 | Hong Yong Ja | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Byong Ryol | Ri Jong O | O Mi-ran, Pak Ki Ju, Kim Jong Hwa | Korean Film Studio |
| 14 | Ri In Mo | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Pak Se Ung | Ri Jong O | Jong Un Mo, Jong Chun Ran, Kim In Kon | Korean 2.8 Film Studio |
| 15 | Ri In Mo | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Pak Se Ung | Ri Jong O | Jong Un Mo, Jong Chun Ran, Kim In Kon | Korean 2.8 Film Studio |
| 16 | Ri In Mo | Choe Sang Gun | Choe Sang Gun | Pak Se Ung | Ri Jong O | Jong Un Mo, Jong Chun Ran, Hong Kyong Ran | Korean 2.8 Film Studio |
| 17 | Ho Jong Suk | Ri Chun-gu | Ri Jae Jun | Choe Byong Ryol | Ri Jong O | Kim Yong Suk, Choe Chang Su, Kim Ok Hui | Korean Film Studio |
| 18 | Ho Jong Suk | Ri Chun-gu | Ri Jae Jun | Choe Byong Ryol | Ri Jong O | Kim Yong Suk, Choe Chang Su, Kim Ok Hui | Korean Film Studio |
| 19 | Ho Jong Suk | Ri Chun-gu | Ri Jae Jun | Choe Byong Ryol | Ri Jong O | Kim Yong Suk, Kim Kwang Mun, Hong Hwal Cho | Korean Film Studio |
| 20 | | | | | | | |
| 21 | | | | | | | |
| 22 | | | | | | | |
| 23 | | | | | | | |
| 24 | | | | | | | |
| 25 | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Yong Ho | Ui Yong Song | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ri Ji Yong, Ryu Kyong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 27 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Yong Ho | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ri Ji Yong, Ryu Kyong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 28 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Yong Ho | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ri Ji Yong, Ryu Kyong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 29 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Yong Ho | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Kwak Myong So, Mun Jong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 30 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Yong Ho | Ui Yun Song | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ri Ji Yong, Ryu Kyong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 31 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Kil In | Han Ryong Su | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ryu Kyong Ae, Ri Ji Yong | Korean Film Studio |
| 32 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Kil In | Han Ryong Su | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ryu Kyong Ae, Ri Ji Yong | Korean Film Studio |
| 33 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Kil In | Han Ryong Su | Hwang Jin Yong | Yu Won Jun, Ri Kyong Hui, Ko Sung Ryong | Korean Film Studio |
| 34 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Hyon Chol | Han Ryong Su | Ri Bong Ryong | Yu Won Jun, Ryu Kyong Ae, Ri Ji Yong | Korean Film Studio |
| 35 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Hyon Chol | Han Ryong Su | Ri Bong Ryong | Yu Won Jun, Ryu Kyong Ae, Ri Ji Yong | Korean Film Studio |
| 36 | Workers | Ri Chun-gu | Kim Hyon Chol | Han Ryong Su | Ri Jong O | Yu Won Jun, Ryu Kyong Ae, Choe Kwang Song | Korean Film Studio |
| 37 | | | | | | | |
| 38 | | | | | | | |
| 39 | | | | | | | |
| 40 | | | | | | | |
| 41 | | | | | | | |
| 42 | | | | | | | |
| 43 | | | | | | | |
| 44 | | | | | | | |
| 45 | | | | | | | |
| 46 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Jo Kyong Sun | O Thae Yong | So Jong Kon | Choe Bong Sik, Ri Won Bok, O Mi-ran | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 47 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Jo Kyong Sun | O Thae Yong | Pak Sang Su | Choe Bong Sik, Ri Won Bok, O Mi-ran | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 48 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Jo Kyong Sun | O Thae Yong | Pak Sang Su | Choe Bong Sik, Ri Won Bok, O Mi-ran | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 49 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Choe Bu Kil | O Thae Yong | Pae Yong Sam | Choe Bong Sik, Ri Won Bok, O Mi-ran | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 50 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Choe Bu Kil | O Thae Yong | Pae Yong Sam | Choe Bong Sik, Ri Won Bok, O Mi-ran | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 51 | Choe Hyon | Ri Chun-gu | Choe Bu Kil | O Thae Yong | Pae Yong Sam | Choe Bong Sik, O Mi-ran, Ri Won Bok | Korean 4.25 Film Studio |
| 52 | People of the past, present and future | Ri Chun-gu | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Jong Hwa, Kim Chol, Ri Kum Suk | Korean Film Studio |
| 53 | People of the past, present and future | Ri Chun-gu | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Ryong Rin, Ri Kum Suk, Kim Myong Mun | Korean Film Studio |
| 54 | People of the past, present and future | Ri Chun-gu | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Ryong Rin, Ri Kum Suk, So Sin Hyang | Korean Film Studio |
| 55 | People of the past, present and future | Ri Chun-gu | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Chol, Kim Son Ok, Kim Myong Mun | Korean Film Studio |
| 56 | People of the past, present and future | Ri Chun-gu | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Ryong Rin, Kim Jong Hwa, Ri Kum Suk | Korean Film Studio |
| 57 | People of the past, present and future | Pak Jong Ju | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Jong Hwa, Kim Ryong Rin, Choe Kwang Song | Korean Film Studio |
| 58 | People of the past, present and future | Pak Jong Ju | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Jong Hwa, Kim Ryong Rin, Ri Kum Suk | Korean Film Studio |
| 59 | People of the past, present and future | Pak Jong Ju | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Jong Hwa, Kim Ryong Rin, Hyon Chang Kol | Korean Film Studio |
| 60 | People of the past, present and future | Sol Ju Yong | Pak Jong Ju | Han Ryong Su | Ko Su Yong | Kim Jong Hwa, Kim Ryong Rin, Kim Chol | Korean Film Studio |
| 61 | Peasants | Ri Tok Yun | Jong Kon Jo | Jong Hong Sok | Song Tong Hwan | Kim Yong Suk, Choe Tae Hyon, Kim Kyong Ae | Korean Film Studio |
| 62 | Peasants | Ri Tok Yun | Jong Kon Jo | Jong Hong Sok | Song Tong Hwan | Choe Tae Hyon, Kim Yong Suk, Ri Yong Ho | Korean Film Studio |

## Music

The use of South Korean popular songs was part of a "mosquito-net strategy", whereby it was hoped the North Korean public would be immunised to the culture of the outside world by gradual exposure.
Some of the music used throughout the series include (but not limited to),
* Nakhwa Yusu / Falling Blossom (낙화유수) - Episode 1 & 10
* Hey, Jude - The Beatles - Episode 2
* Rock Me - ABBA - Episode 2 & 5
* Colonel Bogey March - Episode 5 & 9
* Paris au mois d'août - Charles Aznavour - Episode 12
* Hongdoya Uji Mala / Hongdo, Don't Cry (홍도야 우지 마라) - Episode 12
* Sen'yū - Episode 13
* Geuttae Geusalam / The One I Remember (그때 그사람) - Episode 13
* Mamma Mia - ABBA - Episode 15