Kim Sa-bok died in 1984 due to cancer, which was confirmed by his son in 2017. Kim was not only a taxi driver but someone who worked with foreign reporters because he owned two private vehicles used as "hotel taxis." A photo of Hinzpeter and Kim can be found online, confirmed by the wife of the late reporter.
South Korea's submission to the Foreign Language Film Award of the 90th Annual Academy Awards.
Epilogue: "The footage Hinzpeter risked his life to shoot with the help of Kim Sa-bok was broadcast to the world, exposing the military dictatorship's oppression. Hinzpeter tried several times to find the taxi driver Kim Sa-bok. In January 2016, he passed away without having met him again."
The camera used by the German reporter has "DEUTSCHES FERNSEHEN" written, meaning German Television. The reporter, Jürgen Hinzpeter, worked for German broadcaster ARD, whose television network was known as Deutsches Fernsehen from 1954-1984, in line with the events in the current movie. The present name Das Erste has been in use since 1994.
Prologue: "October 1979. With the shooting of President Park Chung-hee, South Korea's 18-year-long era of dictatorship ends. But in contrast to people's hope for democracy, General Chun Doo-hwan heads a military coup and seizes power. 1980. Outraged citizens protest in the streets, and their yearning for democracy intensifies."