Chonnam National University Hosts Special Exhibition of Ancient Documents on Danjong as Depicted in "The Man Who Lives with the King"

Chunguigong Eomsaengseong Jeongchungrok. Provided by Chonnam National University

The tragic story and loyal legacy of Danjong, as depicted in the hit film "The Man Who Lives with the King," can now be experienced firsthand through ancient documents at Chonnam National University Library. The library has organized a special exhibition, bringing together unofficial and official historical records, as well as historical novels about Danjong, allowing visitors to revisit scenes from the film with original sources and documentation.

According to Chonnam National University on April 1, the library will hold a special exhibition of ancient documents titled "The Man Who Lives with the King: Revisiting Through Ancient Literatures" on the second floor of the main library building for one month until April 30.

This exhibition was planned to reflect the growing historical interest sparked by the recent box-office success of "The Man Who Lives with the King," to uncover related ancient documents held by the library, and to share their value with the local community.

The exhibition features rare ancient records, including the unofficial historical account "Jangneungji" and the official record "Jangneungsabo," both chronicling the life of Danjong, as well as the historical novel "Danjong Aesa" by Chunwon Lee Kwangsoo. Visitors can also explore rare documents honoring the loyalty of Eom Heungdo to Danjong, such as "Chunguigong Eomseonsaeng Jeongchungrok" and "Chunguigong Silgi."

To help visitors easily understand the challenging content of these ancient texts, translated editions, related books, and video content are also provided, enabling a multi-dimensional experience of the historical context.

Additionally, the exhibition allows visitors to compare Danjong’s final moments, as recorded in the "Annals of King Sejo," with scenes from the film, and to examine both official and unofficial records. This approach offers a vivid sense of Danjong’s tragic death, its historical significance, and the unwavering loyalty of Eom Heungdo.

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of King Jeongjo’s enthronement in 2026, a permanent exhibition titled "Hongje: A Grand Vision Awakening the World" will be held on the fifth floor of the library’s ancient documents room through December. This exhibition will display 20 types of ancient documents compiled under King Jeongjo’s directive.

Park Kyunghwan, Director of the Library, stated, "This exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to compare the characters from the film with actual records found in ancient documents. We will continue to present valuable cultural heritage, such as these ancient literatures, to both university members and the local community through various future initiatives."

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