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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

North, South Koreans React to Bond Film

Aired January 2, 2003 - 05:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the new James Bond movie has touched off a firestorm of controversy in North and South Korea.
Our Seoul bureau chief Sohn Jie-Ae has details now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anyone who thinks North Korea deserves more than warnings about its nuclear weapons ambitions should see the latest Bond thriller, "Die Another Day." In it, Bond, James Bond, that is, annihilates North Koreans in the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas and in the end, gets his just revenge against a North Korean renegade. But while James Bond dodges bullets, the movie hasn't been able to escape the barrage of criticism from South and North Koreans alike.

A small group of protesters lined the street in front of the theater where the Bond movie opened, displaying banners, calling for a boycott of the film. They were angry at what they call the movie's warmongering tones.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We think it is outrageous that such a film that promotes war and belittles Koreans should be shown here.

JIE-AE: Internet sites are overrun with claims that several parts of the film portray South Korean soldiers as inferior to the American military and the countryside as poor and under developed. North Korea's official media channels have called the movie "dirty and cursed" and said it slanders North Korea and insults the Korean people.

Nevertheless, most people buying tickets to the controversial flick don't seem that concerned.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really didn't think about that factor. I will judge for myself when I finish seeing the movie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the film should be judged for its entertainment value, not its political meaning.

JIE-AE: However, opening day box office figures don't seem very high. But the movie's distributors hope this will pick up as initial furor dies down.

(on camera): While the recent North Korea controversy may or may not influence how well this film does at the box office, this Bond movie certainly has Koreans on both sides of the border shaken and stirred.

Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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