Kim Younggon, Gyeongnam Superintendent Candidate, Watches "The Man Who Lives with the King," Surpassing 13 Million Viewers

"Education Is Not Just the Transmission of Knowledge
But the Nurturing of People"

Kim Younggon, preliminary candidate for Superintendent of Education in Gyeongnam, shared his thoughts on the significance of history education and the direction of education after watching the movie The Man Who Lives with the King with university students.

On the night of March 14, Kim attended a late-night movie screening with students from Kyungnam University. After watching the film, he discussed with the students the meanings of history, human choices, and responsibility presented by the movie.

A photo of Kim Younggon, a preliminary candidate for superintendent of education in Gyeongnam, taken with university students after watching the movie The Man Who Lives with the King.

This meeting was arranged so that, despite his busy schedule as a preliminary candidate, he could engage with young people through a shared cultural experience and exchange ideas.

The movie The Man Who Lives with the King focuses on the time spent in exile by Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty after his dethronement, and explores the meanings of human choice, responsibility, and power.

Recently, the film surpassed 13 million viewers, receiving an enthusiastic response. Many have commented that this historical narrative has brought meaningful vitality to the stagnant film industry.

The students shared that what remained most memorable to them were Danjong's simple daily life and the presence of Eom Hongdo (played by Yoo Haijin) who remained by his side.

Kim said, "The most impressive scene for me was seeing Danjong living not as a king, but as an ordinary person." He added, "Ultimately, I felt that history is not a story about power, but a story about human choices and responsibility."

He continued, "History is recorded as results, but education is about helping students understand the process. What children need is not knowledge for exams, but the ability to make their own judgments and responsible choices."

He also emphasized, "Although the story in the film is a reconstruction of history through artistic imagination, it also prompts us to rethink the history that has been recorded. Education should help children understand life and society through the choices made by historical figures."

Kim stated, "Education, in the end, is about nurturing people. My promise to be responsible for a child's day also means creating an education that helps children think for themselves and make responsible choices."

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