[Politics That Day] Film 'Noh Moo-hyun Imnida' Surpasses 1 Million Viewers in 10 Days After Release

The Fastest Documentary to Surpass 1 Million Viewers
Political Climate in 2017 Also Influenced Film Success
Annual Memorial Vigils on May 23 in Gimhae Bongha Village

Editor's Note‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

“From a candidate with a 2% approval rating at the bottom to the number one presidential candidate, becoming the people's president?Roh Moo-hyun, who shook the nation in 2002, and the miraculous comeback drama….”

The documentary film My President was introduced to the public in this way. There was some skepticism about how much audience response a film about a politician would receive. The nature of documentary films made it difficult to expect the same audience turnout as commercial movies, which contributed to this atmosphere.

However, My President surprised the film industry from its opening day on May 25, 2017. According to the Integrated Computerized Ticketing System for movie theaters, it recorded a cumulative audience of 86,144 on its first day, creating a sensation. It was the second highest-grossing film among those released at that time.

Movie 'This is Roh Moo-hyun' Still Cut

Ultimately, it made new history for documentary films. Just ten days after its release, on June 3, 2017, My President surpassed one million viewers with a cumulative audience of 1,053,177. It was the fastest documentary film to reach one million viewers, and it was a work that shed light on the life of politician Roh Moo-hyun.

What distinguished My President from other representative successful documentaries like Old Partner and Old Miss Tread was that it was a film about a politician, inevitably entangled in ideological and partisan conflicts.

While it is important to be cautious about judging a work solely by its audience numbers, My President also set records in terms of box office success, with a total audience of 1,854,867.

Considering the past era of Korean cinema’s 10 million viewer milestone, this number might not seem large, but compared to recent box office results, the story is different. Among Korean films released this year, the highest-grossing film has yet to surpass the cumulative audience of My President.

Though the film’s record was set six years ago, it remains an impressive achievement.

Photo by Movie Nomu-hyun Imnida still cut

What drew audiences to My President? This is related to the life of politician Roh Moo-hyun and the political situation in 2017.

Politician Roh Moo-hyun passed away on May 23, 2009. His sudden death shocked the entire nation. Many politicians currently affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea carry a sense of debt regarding Roh Moo-hyun’s death, which serves as a driving force in their political careers. They say they engage in politics to carry on Roh Moo-hyun’s spirit.

For them, May, especially the 23rd, is a painful day. Every year as May 23 approaches, Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, becomes a place of remembrance. Politicians from both ruling and opposition parties visit to pay respects at former President Roh Moo-hyun’s grave. Though it has been 14 years since that day and event, the painful memories do not easily fade.

My President was released in 2017, eight years after Roh Moo-hyun’s passing. At that time, South Korea’s presidency had passed from Lee Myung-bak to Park Geun-hye, and then to Moon Jae-in. Notably, the film’s release date, May 25, 2017, was just after Moon Jae-in, the Democratic Party candidate, was elected president.

The joy of the presidential victory and the relief that Roh Moo-hyun’s grievances were somewhat eased may have laid the foundation for the film’s success. At that time, President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating for his administration exceeded 80%, creating a favorable political climate.

Sketch of Preparations for the 11th Anniversary Event of President Roh Moo-hyun's Passing

With Roh’s friend Moon Jae-in becoming president, My President expanded its box office base, riding the wave of support from their shared political base.

While the political environment cannot be ignored, it was not the only reason for the film’s success. The dramatic elements inherent in Roh Moo-hyun’s personal life and political story also played a crucial role. The process of a candidate who was at the bottom of the presidential race suddenly skyrocketing in approval ratings within a year and winning the presidency is a drama in itself.

My President may have been a film destined to succeed from the start, regardless of its artistic completeness. Just as there are no coincidences in politics, there are no coincidences in the public’s choice of films. It is worth reflecting on what moved the public’s hearts and led them to the theaters.

May 23 approaches once again. Around Bongha Village, yellow ribbons and pinwheels are expected to flutter in memory of the departed politician.

What does May 2023 mean to those who remember May 2009?