Korean theatrical poster for Joint Security Area (2000).
Joint Security Area (Korean: Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA / 공동경비구역 JSA) is a 2000 South Korean drama film directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and starring Lee Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life), Song Kang-ho (Shiri), and Lee Young-ae. Set in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, the film follows the investigation of a fatal gunbattle between the two countries that becomes increasingly complicated as the motivations of the soldiers involved become clearer.
The following weapons were used in the film Joint Security Area:
ROKA Sergeant Lee Soo-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun) and Private Nam Sung-shik (Kim Tae-woo) carry Beretta 92FS pistols as their sidearms, as do other ROKA and US soldiers. In reality, ROKA forces use the Daewoo K5 as their standard sidearm. However, South Korean JSA security forces consisted of Korean Augmentation To the US Army (KATUSA) soldiers until 2004. KATUSA soldiers use the same weapon and uniforms as the US Army.
KPA Sergeant Oh Kyeong-pil (Song Kang-ho) and Private Jeong Woo-jin (Shin Ha-kyun) carry "Pre-B" CZ-75 pistols as their standard sidearms. The CZ-75 is actually used by the North Korean military under the name Baek Du San.
ROKA soldiers patrolling the DMZ are mostly armed with the M16A1 with M16A2 handguards. ROKA forces throughout the movie are wearing US Army uniforms and equipment because they are KATUSAs.
KPA soldiers use the AKM rifle throughout the film, most prominently during the gun battle at the beginning of the film and a scene where North and South Korean soldiers meet during a winter patrol.
Interestingly, South Korean soldiers fire a Daewoo K3 during the gun battle, which is modified with the addition of a heat shield and a different buttstock to resemble the M249 SAW. Mocking up the Daewoo K3 as an American weapon is strange as the Daewoo K3 is a South Korean weapon to begin with.
