Empress Chung: A Lost Korean Animation
In 2005, a South-North Korean collaboration resulted in the animated film 'Empress Chung', directed by Nelson Shin.
The story is set in the 18th century during the Joseon Dynasty. When the nobleman Sim Hak-kyu opposes the treacherous plans of Lee Reuni regarding the crown prince's appointment, he suffers greatly. His house is burned down by an assassin sent by Lee, leading to the death of his wife and the loss of his eyesight from a poisoned arrow. He barely escapes with his infant daughter, Sim Cheong.
Fast forward 14 years, Sim Cheong, now 14, saves her father from drowning in a stream. She visits the head monk of Bongeunsa Temple, who tells her that if she offers 300 bags of rice, her father's sight will be restored. As she works hard to gather the rice, a Chinese merchant claims that sacrifices in the In-dangsu will calm the sea, leading to Sim Cheong being chosen as a sacrifice due to the schemes of the treacherous 'Ppaengdeok Eomeonim'.
The film, based on the classic Korean folktale 'Sim Cheong Jeon', took seven years to produce with a budget of approximately 7 billion won, a collaboration between South Korea's KOAA Film and North Korea's 4.26 Children's Film Studio.
Despite the high production cost, the film only attracted about 70,000 viewers and has since been classified as a lost media in Korean animation, as it has not been found elsewhere.
In April 2025, a user discovered that the Ministry of Unification still held a copy of the film, leading to its availability for viewing at the National Library of Korea for Korean citizens.
On January 1, 2026, the 'Fileast堂' YouTube channel, known for preserving cultural materials, released the full version of the Japanese DVD edition of the film, which includes Korean audio and Japanese subtitles.
While the animation quality is not exceptional, it is better than earlier recorded versions of Korean animations. The film closely follows the original story but incorporates new elements, such as emphasizing family love through the relationship between Sim Cheong and her father, Sim Bong-sa.
Although it includes Disney-like elements, such as animal companions aiding the protagonists, the overall narrative feels outdated, relying on supernatural resolutions rather than character-driven actions.
In conclusion, while 'Empress Chung' attempts to modernize a classic tale, its storytelling flaws and reliance on outdated tropes hinder its effectiveness as a family film.
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