[Interview] "Don't Beg for Your Life, Just Die" Tears of Namunhee

Yoon Je-kyun's Musical Film 'Hero' Surpasses 1.8 Million
Portraying Jo Maria, Mother of Independence Activist Ahn Jung-geun

A son who carried out a great cause with a righteous purpose. What mother in the world could tell her child, who was unjustly imprisoned and sentenced to death, "Don't beg for your life, just die"? No matter how many times you repeat it, it is a word you dare not say, an emotion you cannot even imagine. Jo Maria (1862?1927) was the mother of An Jung-geun (1879?1910), who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, the Resident-General of the Japanese Government-General of Korea, at Harbin Station in 1909 in resistance to Japanese invasion. After loudly shouting "Korea Ura" (Long live Korean independence) three times to the sky, An Jung-geun surrendered peacefully and was imprisoned in Lushun (旅順) prison, where he underwent interrogation and trial.

Jo Maria was recorded in history as a great figure who conveyed to her son An Jung-geun, imprisoned for the Harbin incident, that the punishment he received was for doing the right thing, and that he should not cowardly beg for life but die for the righteous cause as filial piety to his mother. She had three sons and one daughter with An Tae-hoon: An Jung-geun, An Seong-nyeo (1881?1954), An Jeong-geun (1884?1949), and An Gong-geun (1889?1939), all of whom were honorable mothers who dedicated their children to the altar of independence movement.

Actress Na Moon-hee. Photo by CJ ENM

On December 21 last year, the 113th anniversary of An Jung-geun's Harbin incident, the movie Hero was released. It depicts the last year of An Jung-geun, from the time he was preparing the assassination in Harbin in October 1909, through his execution after receiving a death sentence from the Japanese court. Director Yoon Je-kyun, who achieved double tens of millions in box office with Haeundae (2009) and Ode to My Father (2014), adapted the musical of the same name, which premiered in 2009 and has been performed for 14 years, onto the screen.

On the afternoon of the 4th, we met actress Na Moon-hee (81), who played Jo Maria in the film, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. She said with teary eyes, "She was an incredible person. How could she sacrifice her own child? I still don't understand."

"As a leader of the righteous army, she did not yield before the Japanese, even though it was obvious she would be killed if she didn't. To such a son, Jo Maria told him not to yield and to follow his great cause. How must a mother's heart have been? It's amazing. A son is a child to his mother whether he is ten or fifty years old. How could she do that to her own child? She said she expressed her feelings, but in reality, it must have been even more. But I still find it hard to empathize. I prayed a lot."

Director Yoon Je-kyun proposed the role of Jo Maria to Na Moon-hee without hesitation. When mentioned, Na Moon-hee said, "I had a connection with Director Yoon, who produced the movie Harmony (2010). I also enjoyed his films Haeundae and Ode to My Father, so I was looking forward to Hero." She laughed, saying, "I just did it thinking he trusted me." She expressed gratitude, saying, "My mother passed away at 102 years old, and Director Yoon came to the funeral. Although he didn't meet me, I heard he talked a lot with my eldest daughter."

Many responded that they shed tears at the scene where Jo Maria sews her son's burial clothes while calling him "my beloved son Doma." When asked about this, Na Moon-hee said with teary eyes, "It was overwhelming. Even now, thinking about it makes me choked up." She added, "Thinking about it, I was stunned and had convulsions inside. It was much sadder than the sorrow I expressed."

Na Moon-hee recently invited her professional golfer grandchild to the Hero premiere. The grandchild wiped their face with a handkerchief during the scene where Jo Maria sews the burial clothes. After watching the movie, the grandchild happily asked, "Is this the rice cake soup Na Moon-hee made?" The eldest daughter, who majored in piano, helped her practice the musical numbers. Family is another source of motivation for Na Moon-hee.

"My husband foolishly wants to take singing lessons. Sometimes he takes lessons with my eldest daughter. Of course, I have to pay for it. I can give because I earn. My daughter was happy to see her name listed as 'Na Moon-hee Singing Teacher' in the Hero scroll. Knowing I helped makes me feel good too."

Actor Na Moon-hee. Photo by CJ ENM

Na Moon-hee debuted in 1961 as part of MBC Radio's first class and has walked a single path as an actress for 61 years. When asked about this, she replied, "Because I do what I love." She laughed, saying, "If you do what you love for 60 years, it comes naturally without thinking." Recently, she started using TikTok, a short-form video content platform. "I started on October 4 last year. I prepare to shoot once a week. It's fun to meet people around the world. I haven't earned any income yet, but it's good to be active," she said.

Young viewers remember Na Moon-hee from High Kick Through the Roof. Her angry shout of "Pumpkin sweet potato" is fondly remembered by many. She laughed, saying, "The TikTok staff even bring sweet potatoes to meet me." She emphasized, "I hope there will be more light-hearted dramas like High Kick Through the Roof. Grandmothers don't have to be serious all the time. I hope to do many fun works and enjoy myself while working." She added, "I hope our grandmothers work a little more. Many around me actively socialize and see their grandchildren. I hope more people don't just stay at home but work a little and contribute to society."

During her social life, six decades have passed. Na Moon-hee said she enjoys riding the bus and going to public baths without caring about others' gazes. Calling herself a "grandmother," she gave honest answers to any questions. Her optimistic nature seems to be the secret to her long acting career.

"I live struggling with my own things. When I work in society, I endure most things well. You have no choice but to endure. When I want to wear clothes I like, I think it would be nice to wear them, but sometimes they don't fit when I put them on. Even when I wear sneakers and look in the mirror, it still looks decent. Acting is the same. When I get a script, I feel overwhelmed, but if I keep looking at it and repeat it, I think it's okay. Sometimes I get scolded a lot, but I have to overcome it. I don't think I've done well enough, and I don't want to be greedy. I just want to find my part and do it well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.