Diplomacy Journal Lee Sung Jun | KOREA, July 22, 2026 — A special screening of "Act of Victory," a documentary film chronicling the life and battlefield legacy of General Paik Sun-yup, was held for United States service members at a U.S. military base in South Korea on Wednesday evening, drawing approximately 200 attendees in what organisers described as a solemn and deeply moving occasion.

The film, directed by Kwon Soon-do and originally released in South Korean cinemas last summer, represents 22 years of production effort. It has been widely recognised among military professionals and historians for preserving rare archival footage and firsthand battlefield accounts narrated by General Paik himself — the Republic of Korea Army's most celebrated commander of the Korean War era.

The screening was attended by Brigadier General Jin H. Pak, one of the first Korean American general officers in the United States Army and the current commanding general of the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command; Mrs. Paik Nam-hee, the eldest daughter of General Paik Sun-yup; and Director Kwon. Their presence lent the evening a particular weight, bridging the generations and nationalities whose fates were bound together on the Korean Peninsula more than seven decades ago.

A Commander's Legacy, Retold for a New Generation

Prior to the screening, Brigadier General Pak addressed the assembled service members, framing the documentary as an opportunity for professional and historical education within the context of the enduring ROK-US Alliance.

"Professionals understand that they must continuously learn more about their craft and their responsibilities," Pak said. "For those of us who wear the uniform, our responsibility is to be prepared to fight and prevail as an Army."

He went on to describe General Paik as an individual who became a true expert in the profession of arms under some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable — battle-tested as a commanding general during the Korean War before going on to serve as Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army and playing a pivotal role in building the modern ROK military.

Brig. Gen. Pak had also delivered a commemorative address at the sixth anniversary memorial ceremony honoring General Paik on July 10 at Dabudong — the site of one of the Korean War's most critical engagements.

A Daughter's Gratitude, A Soldier's Tears

Mrs. Paik Nam-hee offered remarks that visibly moved many in the room. She recalled that her father had frequently said throughout his lifetime that South Korea could not have survived without the sacrifice and assistance of American forces — and that he carried deep gratitude for that support until the end of his life. Her words were met with a standing ovation from the U.S. service members in attendance.

Director Kwon, speaking before the screening, emphasised that the film was intended to reach beyond a single biography. "This film is not only about General Paik Sun-yup, a symbol of the ROK-US Alliance," he said, "but also about our grandfathers, fathers, brothers, and the American brothers-in-arms with whom we shared blood and sacrifice." He expressed his hope that the documentary would be viewed not only by members of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, but by U.S. military field commanders throughout the alliance.

Closing with "Katchi Kapshida"

Following the screening, attendees gathered for a group photograph before concluding the evening by chanting the ROK-US Alliance motto — "Katchi Kapshida," meaning "We Go Together" — bringing the occasion to a warm and memorable close.

The event was organised with the express purpose of supporting military education and strengthening the bonds of the ROK-US Alliance, and by all accounts it achieved both.