held the record for the most viewed film in theatres until the release of Taegukgi in 2004, which received 11.74 million viewings. Derek Elley from Variety gave the film a positive review, praising both its production and casting. Awards and nominations 2004 Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize for Film 2004 Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor – Heo Joon-ho Best Adapted Screenplay – Kim Hie-jae Best Planning – Jonathan Kim Special Jury Prize – Plenus/Cinema Service Nomination – Best Film Nomination – Best Director – Kang Woo-suk Nomination – Best Editing – Ko Im-pyo 2004 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Best Director – Kang Woo-suk Best Supporting Actor – Jung Jae-young Nomination – Best Supporting Actor – Heo Joon-ho Nomination – Best Screenplay – Kim Hie-jae Nomination – Best Cinematography – Kim Sung-bok Nomination – Best Art Direction – Jeong Eun-jeong 2004 Korean Film Awards Nomination – Best Supporting Actor – Jung Jae-young Nomination – Best Supporting Actor – Heo Joon-ho Historical accuracy The release of this film brought public attention to Unit 684, and in 2006 the South Korean Ministry of National Defense released an official report on the unit and the uprising, officially acknowledging its existence for the first time. Brigadier General Nam Dae-yeon said that the 31 Silmido recruits who made up Unit 684 were part of a Republic of Korea Air Force squadron. Seven died in training and 20 were killed in the uprising. The four who survived were executed after a military trial in 1972. Nam stated that documents describing Unit 684's mission no longer exist, but the government has not denied that its mission was to kill Kim Il-sung. What actually caused the uprising on August 23, 1971, is unclear. The film shows the government deciding that the recruits had to be killed because they knew too much. The recruits find out and revolt. Jonathan Kim, the film's producer, acknowledges that history is unclear at this point. Six guards survived the Silmido uprising. One of the guards, Yang Dong Su, confirmed that the unit's mission had been to infiltrate North Korea and kill Kim Il-sung. Yang stated that though the film portrays the 31 recruits as death-row inmates, most were petty criminals. Yang stated that "They were the kind who would get into street fights a lot". Yang also gives his version of why the uprising occurred. On May 19, 2010, the Seoul