[Arts & Culture] [80 years of Korean Liberation] 'The pen is mightier than the sword'

Time now for our Weekly Arts and Culture segment.

We have our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin in the studio.

Welcome, Yoo-jin!

Happy Friday!

What do you have for us today?

As you'll already know, I'm sure, this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.

To honor this historic milestone, a variety of stage and screen productions are bringing the story of Korea's independence movement to audiences.

For this week, here are two productions that introduce Korean freedom fighters on stage and on screen.

"Higher than the sky."

"We refuse to accept this statement!"

Four young men and women sing with passion, even with guns pressed into their backs.

Their mission: to protect the Korean language from being erased during Japan's colonial rule.

This homegrown musical, "Yesterday's Poem, Tomorrow's Song," brings to life the struggles of young Korean independence fighters to defend their language and culture through poetry, when forced to adopt Japanese.

This is the first musical to use the poetry of Kim So-wol as its lyrics.

Kim, one of Korea's most beloved poets, lived during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945.

"Korea's independence movement was also about the power of words, poetry, and speech. We wanted to highlight not only the lyrical beauty of Kim So-wol's poetry but also the deep emotions tied to our history and identity."

"There are countless films, dramas, and performances about the independence movement.

But our musical focuses on cultural efforts, young people who believed in fighting through creativity and expression."

Alongside the musical, other creative projects are honoring the sacrifices and resilience of independence activists, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan.

The film "Baeksan-From Uiryeong to Balhae" is another example.

The documentary tells the story of independence activist Ahn Hee-je, who ran a trading company that served as the financial backbone of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai.

"Ahn believed in nurturing people and fostering education to build a better future. He understood that independence required not just weapons but also resources, networks, and platforms to sustain the movement. His trading company, similar to today's largest conglomerates, also helped train independence fighters."

Using advanced AI technology, Director Chin vividly brought Ahn's story to life on screen.

Drone footage of Balhae Farm, a rice farm Ahn founded to support displaced Korean farmers and fund the independence movement, shows his vision: a haven where independence grew through empowerment.

"While armed resistance played a significant role in the independence movement, we must also recognize there were many figures like Ahn, who worked behind the scenes to provide the critical resources that made such efforts possible."

These stories remind us that freedom was won through countless acts of courage in many forms.

These two productions really prove that the pen can be as mighty, or sometimes even mightier, than the sword.

Yoo-jin, you mentioned earlier that there are several productions here in Korea focusing on the independence movement.

Could you tell us about some other notable works?

Sure.

There's the film "Harbin," starring actor Hyun Bin.

Since its release on Christmas Eve, Harbin has dominated the domestic box office, holding the top spot for 24 consecutive days.

So far, it has sold over four million tickets.

The film is a historical drama that tells the story of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, played by Hyun Bin.

It focuses on his mission to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, at Harbin Station in China.

And there's good news for our international viewers.

"Harbin" is already being screened in theaters across the U.S., Indonesia, and Malaysia, and it's set to premiere in Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan later this month.

And Yoo-jin, what events can we look forward to this year celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan?

Since it's still early in the year, not all plans have been announced yet.

However, according to the Culture Ministry, museums under its wing will host exhibitions to mark the occasion.

This year also marks 60 years of normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of events are held as the year unfolds.

Hope you keep us updated throughout the year, Yoo-jin.

Thank you for your report today.

My pleasure.