Seoul: The appeal of the South Korean animated film "The King of Kings" is driven by its high-quality production and universal theme of love, not just its faith-based nature, according to its director.
According to Yonhap News Agency, at a press conference in Seoul, director and scriptwriter Jang Seong-ho explained his motivation for choosing the life of Jesus Christ as the subject for his debut film. Acknowledging Jesus' "massive influence" on human history, Jang highlighted the absence of a major animated film dedicated to this story, which he sought to rectify. The film takes inspiration from Charles Dickens' "The Life of Our Lord," and follows Dickens as he narrates the story of Christ to his son, Walter, and their cat, Willa, featuring an impressive voice cast including Oscar Isaac and Pierce Brosnan.
Released in the United States on April 11, "The King of Kings" has already grossed US$68 million at the global box office. The film set a new record in the U.S. by becoming the highest-grossing Korean film, surpassing Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite." From the project's inception a decade ago, Jang strategically targeted the North American market, understanding it was crucial for recouping the substantial budget required for the film's envisioned quality.
Jang, whose background is in visual effects, expressed confidence in his ability to produce a technically superb film. However, he described the real challenge as securing financial backing over a nearly decadelong period. "I spent 99 percent of my energy sourcing financial backing for the film," Jang said, elaborating on the lengthy delay. Despite acknowledging "much room for improvement," Jang affirmed his commitment to the project, expressing pride when audiences recognize the film as a Korean creation.
Reflecting on the evolving perception of Korean culture, Jang noted a shift over the past decade, with foreign colleagues becoming more familiar with Korean culture and language. "There is a marked difference between a decade ago and now," he said, emphasizing a newfound sense of equality with international collaborators. "The time for feeling culturally inferior is over," Jang asserted, adding that younger generations of Koreans no longer harbor such sentiments.
Jang emphasized that the creative landscape has leveled, allowing Korean creators to produce stories about any subject without hesitation, much like Hollywood's productions about Korea. "The King of Kings" is slated to debut in South Korean theaters on July 16 and aims to reach audiences in 90 nations by the end of the year, with potential expansion to 120 countries as release discussions continue.