Confession of Life or Death (1978)

Confession of Life or Death 1978 / 생사의 고백 1978 / Saengsaui Gobaeg , A Life and Death Confession , Saengsaui Gobaek

The North Korean spy Pi Jang Duk starts to have doubts of his life back in the North when he sees the prosperity of the South and its people living happily and free. Yong Wook is an orphan who pickpockets to get enough money to pay for the special education his retarded brother needs. Jang Duk meets Yong Wook and experiences freedom first hand as he watches Yong Wook repent his wrongdoings and live with hope. Jang Duk decides to turn himself in. However, Jang Duk gets caught instead in order to protect his family still in North Korea as well as let Yong Wook get the reward money for his capture. Knowing this, Yong Wook goes to the head of the anti-Communist special division of the police and tells him the truth. Through the efforts of the police and the public defender, the court grants Jang Duk leniency. Ultimately, it is declared that Jang Duk is a defector spy and his freedom and happiness are guaranteed.