April 4, 2025 — A historic day for South Korean democracy.
Today, President Yoon Suk-yeol was officially impeached by the National Assembly.
Across the country, people are rejoicing.
Not because a political figure has fallen,
but because democracy has once again proven to be alive and resilient.
The past few years have not been easy.
The people have endured abuse of power, unchecked prosecutors, media manipulation, and the bitter taste of inequality.
But in the end, one truth stood strong: sovereignty belongs to the people.
And on this very day, one film resurfaces in my memory —
a story of power, corruption, and the cost of ambition:
The King (2017), directed by Han Jae-rim.
The King — Plot Summary
Directed by Han Jae-rim
Starring: Jo In-sung, Jung Woo-sung, Bae Sung-woo, Kim Eui-sung, Ryu Jun-yeol
Genre: Crime / Political Drama / Thriller
Park Tae-soo (Jo In-sung) was a typical student from a poor background who learned early that only the powerful survive.
Watching his powerless father being humiliated one day, he makes a decision:
“I want to become someone with real power.”
For him, that meant becoming a prosecutor.
He claws his way into Seoul National University, becomes a prosecutor, and dreams of being a modern-day "king."
But reality is far from the noble idea of justice.
Assigned to a remote office, Tae-soo soon realizes that power lies not in the law, but in connections.
He meets Han Kang-sik (Jung Woo-sung), a high-ranking prosecutor who introduces him to the inner workings of a corrupt system —
a web of backdoor deals, secret alliances, and untouchable elite circles.
As Tae-soo climbs the ladder, he becomes part of a cartel that manipulates laws, silences enemies, and enjoys untold luxuries.
But no king reigns forever.
Eventually, Tae-soo realizes that he’s nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game —
and the fall from power is always faster than the rise.
Review: When Power Is No Longer Supreme
The King is not just a political thriller.
It’s a mirror reflecting the uncomfortable truths of Korean society.
It asks:
What is law without justice?
And who truly rules — the people or the prosecutors?
The film portrays how real power is invisible, hidden behind the veil of authority and systems designed to protect the powerful.
Tae-soo’s journey is both thrilling and tragic — a warning of what happens when we let the law become a weapon for the few.
Memorable Quotes
“Law is not about morality. Law is power.” — Park Tae-soo
“Real power doesn’t show itself. It hides.” — Han Kang-sik
“Do I look like someone who could be king?” — Park Tae-soo
In Closing
Today, South Korea made history.
The impeachment of a sitting president is not just a legal action —
it's the voice of the people echoing through the halls of power.
And while we celebrate, let us not forget those who enabled injustice:
the journalists who chose silence over truth,
the officials who traded integrity for influence,
and the system that made all of this possible.
Now, more than ever,
we need the press to rise above the power structures,
to report with integrity,
to hold truth as sacred.
This time,
I truly want to see the real power of journalism in South Korea.
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