''Over the Border'' (), also known as ''South of the Border'', is a 2006 South Korean

melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...

film. It is

Ahn Pan-seok Ahn Pan-seok (born November 1961) is a South Korean television director. Ahn directed the Korean dramas ''Something In The Rain'' (2018), ''Roses and Bean Sprouts'' (1999), ''Ajumma'' (2000), '' Behind the White Tower'' (2007), ''How Long I've K ...

's feature film directorial debut.

Plot

Kim Sun-ho is a

horn Horn may refer to: Common uses * Horn (acoustic), a tapered sound guide ** Horn antenna ** Horn loudspeaker ** Vehicle horn ** Train horn *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various animals * Horn (instrument), a family ...

player for the Mansoodae Art Company,

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

's state orchestra. He comes from a well-to-do family in North Korea and is about to marry his sweetheart, War Memorial guide, Lee Yeon-Hwa. One day, Sun-ho's family receives a letter from his grandfather in

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

, whom they had thought was dead. They begin to exchange letters, but when the authorities discover their correspondence, this puts the Kim family in grave danger. They decide to flee North Korea and

defect Defect or defects may refer to: Related to failure * Angular defect, in geometry * Birth defect, an abnormal condition present at birth * Crystallographic defect, in the crystal lattice of solid materials * Latent defect, in the law of the sale o ...

to the

South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...

, where they are initially penniless and friendless. Devastated that he had to leave Yeon-Hwa behind, Sun-ho works hard to save enough money to help her escape North Korea and join him. But one day, news reaches him that Yeon-Hwa has married another man. Slowly he emerges from his heartbreak and despair to find a way to adapt to life in the South, and eventually marries a kind South Korean woman named Seo Kyung-Joo. But his peaceful life is again disrupted when he learns that Yeon-Hwa has defected to the South, and contrary to what he had heard, she isn't married at all.

Cast

Cha Seung-won Cha Seung-won (; born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand model (person), fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), ' ...

as Kim Sun-ho *

Jo Yi-jin Jo Yi-jin (; born December 26, 1982), birth name Jo Bo-hyun, is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the films '' The Aggressives'' (2005) and '' Over the Border'' (2006). Filmography Film Television series Music video Awards an ...

as Lee Yeon-Hwa *

Shim Hye-jin Shim Hye-jin (; born February 6, 1966) is a South Korean actress and model. She was one of the leading actresses of the 1990s in South Korea. Shim started her career as a model and achieved stardom with a Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, ...

as Seo Kyung-Joo *

Song Jae-ho Song Jae-ho (born Song Jae-eon; 10 March 1937 – 7 November 2020) was a South Korean actor. Career He made his acting debut in 1959, and became best known for his work in 1970s and 1980s South Korean cinema, notably '' Yeong-ja's Heydays'' (1 ...

as Sun-ho's father *Won Mi-won as Sun-ho's mother *

Yoo Hae-jin Yoo Hae-jin (; born January 4, 1970) is a South Korean actor. After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. He has established himself as one of the ...

as Sun-ho's brother-in-law *

Lee Ah-hyun Lee Ah-hyun (; born April 13, 1972) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in the television drama ''Daughter of a Rich Family'', for which she won Best New Actress at the 1994 KBS Drama Awards The KBS Drama Awards () is an aw ...

as Sun-ae *Kim Cheol-Yong as Guide *Jo Mun-Ui as Broker *Lee Sang-Ju as Conductor *

Park Hyuk-kwon Park Hyuk-kwon (; born July 11, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Park began his acting career in 1993 as a member of the theater troupe Sanulrim. He later became a well-regarded supporting actor in films such as '' Chaw'' (2009) and '' Secret Reu ...

as Detective in charge of Yeon-Hwa *Son Jin-ho as Photographer * Boom as Reporter *Choi Dae-Woong as Grandfather *Yang Ji-Woong as Driver *Gu Bon-Im as a Chinese restaurant owner * Kim Sang-ho as Drunk ( cameo) *Son Beom-soo as Announcer (cameo)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{North Korean defectors 2006 films South Korean drama films Films about North Korea–South Korea relations Films about North Korean defectors 2000s South Korean films