Tears of Blood

This feature length documentary in both Korean and Welsh contrasts the epic stories of Meirion Evans and Young-Bok Yoo.

When the North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950 Young-Bok Yoo was only a schoolboy. When Seoul fell he was forced to join the Student Army of North Korea but was soon captured by the South and imprisoned in a UN POW Camp for two years.

In 1952 most of the prisoners were released and given a choice to stay in the South or return to the North. Young-Bok Yoo chose to stay and fight for South Korea and prove his loyalty once and for all. After a month of intense fighting, he was injured and captured by Chinese forces.

As a prisoner of war he was forced to work under intolerable conditions in several North Korean mines. He tried his best to build some sort of life for himself but the constant indoctrination, lack of food and physical hardship made this almost impossible.

After over half a century of suffering in exile he finally escaped to South Korea in the year 2000 at the age of 71.

Now aged 84 he reflects on the loves, hopes and missed opportunities he faced during his long life.

Meirion Evans, from Brynaman in the South Wales Valleys fought on the British side in the Korean War and we contrast the effect the ‘Forgotten War’ has had on Meirion’s life with the experiences of Mr.Yoo. Both Meirion and Mr.Yoo remain, in their different ways, prisoners of the world’s forst ‘proxy war’.

This beautiful, thoughtful and controversial film follows Mr Yoo and Meirion in daily life. There are also interviews with other escaped POW's and family members.