Kim Heung-guk Produces Documentary on Park Chung-hee and Yuk Young-soo: "People I Have Always Respected"

Movie 'And When the White Magnolia Blooms' Production Announcement
Scheduled for Release in July... "Will Also Publish Book and Songs"
Director Yoon Hee-sung "Hope It Becomes an Opportunity for Left-Right Harmony"

Singer Kim Heung-guk, who announced plans to create a documentary about former President Park Chung-hee and his wife Yuk Young-soo, revealed the background of the production, saying, "I have always respected former President Park, and Mrs. Yuk was like a mother to me."

On the 14th, at a press conference for the documentary film And When the White Magnolia Blooms held at The Plaza Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Kim Heung-guk said, "I had been thinking about making the film for a long time before meeting director Yoon Hee-sung," adding, "We decided to 'join forces and try making it together.'" He also shared, "I cried a lot after watching the documentary War of Nation Building about former President Syngman Rhee," and announced that he plans to release songs and books related to former President Park and his wife soon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Director Yoon Hee-sung, who is in charge of directing, explained, "Our people tend to know less about the liberation period history than the Goryeo Dynasty," adding, "This film connects the liberation period (history) with the personal stories of former President Park and Mrs. Yuk." He continued, "I think debates between progressives and conservatives will intensify after the release," emphasizing, "I hope the debates will help resolve those issues and become an opportunity for left and right to reconcile." Director Yoon added, "We tried to maintain objectivity through materials," and said, "We want to correct distorted history and reflect on its true meaning."

Scheduled to be released in July, this 120-minute nonfiction film mixes 70% archival footage with 30% reenactments. The first half highlights figures such as Syngman Rhee, Kim Gu, Park Heon-young, and Kim Il-sung, as well as the liberation period under the Soviet military government in North Korea and the U.S. military government in South Korea. The middle and latter parts depict former President Park’s military service records, the May 16 military coup and industrialization process, Mrs. Yuk’s passing, and former President Park’s state funeral.

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