Actor Kim Min-jae marks his post-military comeback with a meaningful project, stepping into the role of independence activist Yun Bong-gil on the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation.

About the Documentary

KBS Daejeon Broadcasting Station will air My Friend Yun Bong-gil on KBS-1TV at 1:05 PM on the 30th. The program explores the lesser-known youth of Yun Bong-gil, reconstructing his actions before and after the Hongkou Park incident through the perspectives of the independence movement and historian Kim Gwang. For the first time on broadcast, the illegal military tribunal conducted by Japanese authorities is reenacted, using historical verdicts and investigation records to reveal the suppressed past.

Kim Min-jae's Portrayal

Kim Min-jae, known for his charismatic gaze and compelling voice, brings depth to the young Yun Bong-gil, who left his hometown in Yesan, Chungnam, carrying the motto "A man departs but life does not return" and crossing the Yalu River with a resolve to fight for independence. The production team praised his restrained yet detailed performance, highlighting Yun's determination behind the intense actions.

Supporting Cast

Veteran actor Kang Shin-il plays Kim Gu, delivering a powerful presence through silence and gaze rather than dialogue, conveying the elder's firm convictions. Actor Go Geon-heon portrays Kim Gwang, Yun's friend and comrade who later authored The Life of Yun Bong-gil to share his story. Park Jung-hak and Kim Ki-doo play assistants in publishing the book, while Seo Jin-won appears as Shirakawa Yoshinori, commander of the Shanghai dispatched forces.

The documentary emphasizes the profound bond between the young revolutionary Yun Bong-gil and the seasoned thinker Kim Gu, blending historical insight with human emotion.