Program Note
Inspired by the real-life events of October 26, 1979, The Man Standing Next dramatizes the final 40 days leading up to the assassination of South Korean President Park Chung hee by his own intelligence chief. A tense psychological battle for power unfolds onscreen, driven by a gripping ensemble performance from the key players. Though the incident is widely known, its murky inner workings are reimagined through Lee Byung Hun¡¯s portrayal of intelligence chief Kim Gyu Pyeong, offering a fresh interpretation and a deeper inquiry into the truth. As Kim grows increasingly disillusioned with the president despite holding immense power, Lee charts his transformation through subtle shifts in tone and bearing, imbuing the character with strong credibility. Positioned at the heart of a pivotal moment in modern Korean history, Kim¡¯s final act brought to life by Lee¡¯s performance, resonated so powerfully that the film drew over two million viewers within just five days of its release. (KIM Hye Seon)