From the late 1950s through the '70s, more than 90,000 of the ethnic Koreans in Japan emigrated to North Korea, a country that promised them affluence, justice, and an end to discrimination. KAZOKU NO KUNI tells the story of one of their number, who returns for just a short period. For the first time in 25 years, Sonho is reunited with his family in Tokyo after being allowed to undergo an operation there. Sonho’s younger sister Rie is at the centre of the film, and is not hard to recognise as the director’s alter-ego. In her documentaries DEAR PYONGYANG and SONA, THE OTHER MYSELF, Yang Yonghi told the story of her own life, and how, at age six, she experienced the departure of her three older brothers, who left their family for Pyongyang.

日本に住むリエと帰国事業で北朝鮮へ帰った兄ソンホ。離れて暮らして25年が経ち、ソンホが病気の治療のために日本に帰国することになった。期間は3か月。家族や仲間はソンホとの再会を喜ぶ一方、担当医には3か月では治療は不可能と告げられる。しかし、滞在延長を申請しようとした矢先、本国から「明日帰国するよう」と命令が下り…。

20世纪70年代，为了支持大海另一边的共产主义事业，回归所谓的"人间乐园（地上の楽園）"，自幼生长在日本的朝鲜人松浩（井浦新 饰）被父亲送回"故乡"朝鲜。由于朝鲜并未与日本建交，此一分别便再难想见，转眼便是25年漫长岁月。时至今日，松浩因为患病，被政府特许由监视人梁同志（梁益俊 饰）陪同赴日进行为期3个月的检查治疗。已是分别良久，一面是在意识形态下成长起来的哥哥，一面是自幼便在轻松自由的氛围下生活的妹妹理绘（安藤樱 饰），一面又是亲手将骨肉送往"故土"的父母，久别重逢的家人之间被奇妙而尴尬的氛围所笼罩。在此期间，松浩还重逢了当年的同学，同窗相见分外欣喜。喜悦的另一面，医院的检查治疗结果却并不理想，3个月的治疗期远远不够。为了让哥哥接受更为有效的治疗，理绘往来奔走，想尽一切办法。就在此时，朝鲜方面的一通电话，命令哥哥次日归国……

오빠가 집에 왔다, 25년 만에 감시자와 함께. 우리 가족의 ‘조국’이라는 북으로부터... 나는 말했다. “당신도, 당신의 나라도 싫다...” 감시자가 말했다. “그 나라에서 네 오빠도, 나도 죽을 때까지 살아야 한다” 오빠가 말했다. “넌 여행하면서 많은 것을 보고, 하고 싶은 일을 하며 살아라” 조국이라 강요 당한 나라. 그 곳엔 소중한 내 가족이 있다.