Honored with the Grand Prize at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, 1987: When the Day Comes commemorates the June Democracy Movement that propelled Korea on the path to freedom & democracy. The film also won Best Screenplay, Best Actor for Kim Yoon Seok ( The Fortress) & Best Supporting Actor for Park Hee Soon ( The Fortress) at the Baeksang Arts Awards, & Jang Joon Hwan ( Hwayi: A Monster Boy) was named Best Director at the Cinem Asia Film Festival & 9th KOFRA Film Awards.
Besides Kim Yoon Seok & Park Hee Soon, 1987s all-star ensemble
Includes:: Ha Jung Woo ( Along With The Gods), Yu Hae Jin (A Taxi Driver), Lee Hee Joon ( Haemoo) & The Handmaidens breakout star Kim Tae Ri in the sole female lead role as a politically indifferent college student who is gradually awakened & joins the democracy movement. Sol Kyung Gu ( The Merciless), Yeo Jin Gu ( Hwayi: A Monster Boy), Kang Dong Won ( Master) & Moon Sung Keun ( Forgotten) also make special appearances in the film.
Based on a true story, the award-winning political thriller begins with the death of student activist Park Jong Cheol (Yeo Jin Gu) who was detained for protesting against the oppressive regime of President Chun Doo Hwan. Government officials led by anti-communism bureau chief Park Cheo Won (Kim Yoon Seok) plan to cover up the fact that Park Jong Cheol was tortured to death during interrogation. However, his death sets off a chain of events in which different people frustrated with the unjust system prosecutor Choi (Ha Jung Woo), warden Han Byung Yong (Yu Hae Jin), inspector Cho Han Kyung (Park Hee Soon) & reporter Yoon Sang Sam (Lee Hee Joon) successively push forward an investigation & spark a widespread protest that would bring the government to its knees.