''Good Morning President'' () is a 2009 South Korean film written and directed by

Jang Jin Jang Jin (born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean film director, theatre director, playwright, screenwriter, film producer, actor and TV personality. Considered one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the 1990s Korean cinema renaiss ...

that takes viewers to the private quarters of the

Blue House Cheong Wa Dae ( ko, 청와대; Hanja: ; ), also known as the Blue House, is a public park that formerly served as the executive office and official residence of the president of South Korea from 1948 to 2022. It is located in the Jongno distr ...

during the terms of three fictional presidents (played by

Lee Soon-jae Lee Soon-jae (; born November 16, 1934) is a South Korean actor. He has had a prolific career on the small and big screen spanning over six decades, and was given a second-class Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit for his work as an actor. Early an ...

, Jang Dong-gun and

Go Doo-shim Go Doo-shim (; born May 22, 1951) is a South Korean actress. Career A native of Jeju Island, Go Doo-shim made her acting debut in 1972 and since then she had a prolific career on television, film and theater. Best known for playing the quintes ...

), each trapped between political and ethical choices. It was chosen as the opening film of the

14th Busan International Film Festival The 14th Busan International Film Festival was held from October 8 to October 16, 2009, in Busan, South Korea. A total of 355 films from over 70 countries were screened, beating the record set in the last festival. With a total attendance of 173,5 ...

and was released in theaters on October 22, 2009.

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 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."Good Morning, President"
. ''

KBS World KBS World is the Korean Broadcasting System's international broadcasting service. It consists of KBS World Radio, KBS World television channel and KBS Korea. History The foreign-language radio broadcast from KBS (before its restructure into a ...

''. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18. 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. 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.

Cast

* Jang Dong-gun as Cha Ji Wook *

as Kim Jeong Ho *

as Han Gyeong Ja *

Han Chae-young Kim Ji-young (born September 13, 1980), professionally known by the stage name Han Chae-young, is a South Korean actress. She first gained recognition as the antagonist in the television series '' Autumn in My Heart'' (2000) before gaining wider ...

as Kim Yi Yeon *

Im Ha-ryong Im Ha-ryong (born Im Han-yong on October 31, 1952) is a South Korean actor and comedian. During the 1980s and 1990s, Im was one of Korea's foremost comedians (called "gag men") alongside Shim Hyung-rae and Kim Hyung-gon. As his brand of comedy b ...

as Choi Chang Myeon *Lee Moon-soo as Blue House executive chef *

Park Hae-il Park Hae-il (born 26 January 1977) is a South Korean actor. He began his acting career in theater, but soon gained the film industry's attention in 2003 with ''Jealousy Is My Middle Name'' and ''Memories of Murder''. Park's film career took off, ...

as man requesting a transplant *Lee Hae-yeong as head secretary Moon Young Chul * Joo Jin Mo as chief of Secret Service *Jung Gyu-soo as Kim Jeong-ho's chief of staff *Jeon Yang-ja as Kim Jeong-ho's wife *

Jang Young-nam Jang Young-nam (born November 25, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She began her career as an acclaimed actress in theater, then transitioned to supporting roles on television and film, notably in works by director Jang Jin. A member of Jang Ji ...

as Cha Ji Wook's staff adviser *Park Jun-se as Chang-myeon's attache *Jeon Gook-hwan as Congressman 1 *

Lee Han-wi Lee Han-wi (born June 17, 1961) is a South Korean actor. Since his acting debut in 1983, Lee has become a prolific supporting actor A supporting actor is an actor who performs a role in a play or film below that of the leading actor(s), and ...

as Congressman 2 *Jo Deok-hyeon as Congressman Choi *Lee Yong-yi as old mom *

Choi Ji-na Choi Ji-na (born May 17, 1975) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1995, and became best known as a supporting actress in television dramas, notably ''My Rosy Life'' (2005), ''A Happy Woman'' (2008), and ''My Too Perfect So ...

as waltz teacher *Kim Il-woong *Lee Cheol-min *

Gong Hyung-jin Gong Hyung-jin (born April 10, 1969) is a South Korean actor. While best known as a supporting actor notably in '' Taegukgi'', ''Liar'', ''Marrying the Mafia II'' and '' Alone in Love'', Gong has also played leading roles in ''North Korean Guys ...

as motorcycle delivery man *

Seung Hyo-bin Seung Hyo-bin is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for roles in dramas such as Heading to the Ground, Face Me and Smile and My Shining Girl. She is also did roles in movies such as Good Morning President and Heartbeat (2010 film), H ...

as Kyeong-Ja's secretary *

Ryu Seung-ryong Ryu Seung-ryong (born November 29, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Ryu began his acting career in theater, subsequently becoming one of the most versatile supporting actors in Korean film and television. In 2013, he headlined '' Miracle in Cell N ...

as North Korean emissary *Chae Byeong-chan as male college student * Jung Yu Mi as Mimi *Song Young-kyu as Cha Ji-wook's doctor *Kong Ho-suk as Gyeong-ja's advisor *

Kim Won-hae Kim Won-hae (born April 6, 1969) is a South Korean actor. He is best known as a former cast member of ''SNL Korea'' (season 1–4). Personal life In August 2020, it was reported that Kim tested positive for COVID-19 Coronavirus dis ...

as Gyeong-ja's advisor 2

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 A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...

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. The political comedy is directed by

, 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."

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{IMDb title, 1519466, Good Morning, President − 2009 films South Korean black comedy films Films directed by Jang Jin Films about presidents 2009 black comedy films 2000s South Korean films 2000s Korean-language films