The President's Barber

            The president’s barber was directed by Lim Chang-Sang was set during 1960s and 1970s, and the content is narrative by the main character Nak-An through his memory. In this film, many historical events were shown through the characters. For example, the scene where people hide the ballot under the table and bury in the ground shows the historical events of president Lee Seoungman’s rigged elections. The character Choi is the person who thinks the president is the government, and they always have to follow president’s decision gathers the village people and asked them to vote number 1. The scene, after citizens realized that there was a rigged election and hold demonstrations at the Hyojadong, when Nak-An was born reminds of 4.19 revolution. Nak-An’s father, Seong Hanmo, indirectly represent the citizens who does not know about the politics and the governments and just follow the others. Especially the scene, when there was a demonstration at Hyojadong, and Minja was about to give a birth, on their way to the hospital, some people from the demonstrations asked Hanmo to participate the demonstration since Hanmo was wearing the white gown (they thought Hanmo was a doctor). On that scene, Hanmo and the people from the demonstrations following each other by making circle. The storyline of this film goes by Nak-an’s narration. The scene when Nak-An mentioned  “many people in US gathered to welcome my father” was interesting, because people gathered to welcome the president, not Nak-An’s father. However, Nak-an was too young to understand why there were many people gathered in US and why his father had to go to US. As well as the scene, when Nak-an received electrical torture and Choi and the other people were execution, because the government thought they contacted North Korean spies due to the fact that they had Marxus. However, Nak-an narrated it as “while others became popular on the television news, I received electrical torture. I didn't sign on the paper, because my diarrhea wasn't from my father”.  As mentioned in the reading, “experiences which occurred in very early childhood and were not understood at the time but which were subsequently understood and interpreted. One gains a knowledge of them through dreams and one is obliged to believe in them on the most compelling evidence provided by the fabric of the neurosis” (149). The contents of the film goes through the character’s memories, however, it was interesting, because the narration was based on Nak-an’s point of view. However, since the film was based on the Nak-An’s narration with his memories, it might confuse the audience who does not know abou the Korean histories.

             On Friday, Prof Han gave the lecture about the mega churches in South Korea. There are many churches in South Korea, and as prof Han mentioned, people can easily see the church signs every five minutes. The lecture was really interesting for me as a Christian, and as a person who attended one of the mega churches in Seoul (sarang church). Personally, I changed to the other church, at the time when Sarang church became an issue in South Korea with the construction of the extending buildings. Most pastors from Sarang Church asked church members to give the ‘construction offerings’ no matter their ages. Personally, I felt the constructions were business, not to give more convenient for the church members. While prof Han talked about Chunghyun church, it reminds me of the Chaebol system in South Korea. Chunghyun church became an issue in South Korea with the issue of pastor passed on power to his son. There are many people attending Chunghyun Church since the president Kim Youngsam attended. I could assume that some people decided to attend Chunghyun Church because the president Kim Youngsam was attended. Just like the character Choi in the film, there are many people who believe the president is the government, and they have to follow the president’s decision, which is always right. Still, the mega churches and the constructions of extending churches are the biggest issues in South Korea, and cannot be solved. Even though there are lots of protests going with these issues, however, their protests do not usually become an issue since they do not have enough power. Since the mega churches are running by the Chebols and people who have lots of powers, there are some people who consider mega churches as a business companies, especially non-Christians. Overall, Prof. Han’s lecture was really interesting topics.