Good Morning President
Korean name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationGutmoning peurejideonteu
McCune–ReischauerKutmoning p‘ŭrejitŏnt‘ŭ
Directed byJang Jin
Written byJang Jin
Produced byKim Mi-hwa
StarringJang Dong-gun
Lee Soon-jae
Go Doo-shim
CinematographyChoe Sang-ho
Edited byKim Sang-bum
Kim Jae-bum
Music byHan Jae-gwon
Distributed byCJ Entertainment
Release date
  • October 22, 2009 (2009-10-22)
Running time
132 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$16.1 million[1]

Good Morning President (Korean: 굿모닝 프레지던트; RR: Gutmoning peurejideonteu) is a 2009 South Korean film written and directed by Jang Jin that takes viewers to the private quarters of the Blue House during the terms of three fictional presidents (played by Lee Soon-jae, Jang Dong-gun and Go Doo-shim), each trapped between political and ethical choices. It was chosen as the opening film of the 14th Busan International Film Festival and was released in theaters on October 22, 2009.[2][3][4]

Plot

The first president depicted in the movie is Kim Jeong-ho, an elderly president at the end of his term. He is a respected leader whose great legacy is bringing democracy to the nation and serving the working class throughout his political life. But Kim is at a moral crossroads when he becomes the unlikely winner of a ₩24 billion lottery jackpot just before retiring. The huge amount of money would guarantee a comfortable life in his old age. However, he remembers announcing to his constituents, smiling before cameras, that if he were to win the lottery, he would donate it to charity. He agonizes in silence, wondering whether to keep it for himself or to make good on his words.[5]

Kim’s successor is Cha Ji-wook, the youngest Korean president in history who demonstrates excellent diplomatic skills in handling foreign policies. But even this charismatic president, who is a widowed single father, has three major fears — getting injections, questions from his five-year-old son, and candlelight rallies. One day, a young man asks the president to donate one of his rare tissue-type kidneys, which he says can save his father's life. The president struggles to decide whether or not he should go through a fearful medical procedure. He also reconnects with a childhood crush.[5]

Last but not least, there is Han Gyeong-ja, the country's first female president who is constantly at odds with her troublemaking husband. She finds it more difficult to resolve personal problems related to her reckless husband than to manage state affairs. Entangled in a big corruption scandal involving her husband's real estate speculation, she is offered a divorce to save her presidency. She is now forced to choose between her family and her country.[5]

Cast

Background

Only a few decades ago, the president was an off-limits subject in Korean cinema. It was almost impossible for the older generation who lived through military dictatorships to parody their president. Times have changed, however, and the head of state has been an interesting and appealing character to portray in Korean movies and dramas in recent years. Good Morning, President is a film that brings to light the human side of the nation’s top leader.[5] The political comedy is directed by Jang Jin, well known for using a unique sense of humor to add spice to a plot, poking fun at politics, and providing some good laughs. On top of good humor and laughter, the movie presents the director's ideal vision of how Korean presidents should be. The three presidents depicted in the movie are charismatic, moral and unselfish, although they agonize over their choices between public interest and personal happiness. The director, who also wrote the script, said it was free of political ideology and instead was a "fun movie everyone can enjoy.good"[5][6][7]

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony Category Recipients Result
30th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Good Morning President Nominated
Best Director Jang Jin Nominated
Best Actor Jang Dong-gun Nominated
2012 APAN Star Awards Achievement Award Lee Soon-jae Won

References

  1. ↑ "KOBIZ - Korean Film Biz Zone". Archived from the original on 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  2. ↑ Song, Woong-ki (26 September 2009). "Jang Dong-gun tired of being a bachelor". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  3. ↑ Lee, Ji-hye (8 October 2009). "Jang says not calling for a fight with President". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  4. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (9 October 2009). "President Offers Politically Correct Drama, Flawed Politics". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Good Morning, President" Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine. KBS World. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  6. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (22 September 2009). "Actor Jang Dong-kun Returns as President". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  7. ↑ Park, Sun-young (25 September 2009). "Korean stars take turns playing president". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-04.

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