SW News: The biopic on the first Korean priest and martyr Saint Andrew Kim will hit theaters on November 30. In the film “Birth”,  famous film actor Yoon Si-yoon plays the role of the saint.

The film was previewed at the Vatican a few days ago and was backed by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the saint, which was celebrated last year.
Written and directed by Park Heung-shik and co-produced by the Alma Art Center (Korea Catholic Cultural Center), the film also narrates the story of the birth of Catholicism in the land of Korea. Si-yoon said Saint Andrew Kim symbolized “all those people who were able to break with the old and open a new culture and for this reason are revered as heroes.”

Moreover, “They dreamt of equality and truth in a new world and tried to change it. And this is also a seed for the present."

The film narrates the saintly life of Kim. Born into a family of Christian converts in 1821, he traveled to Macau to study. In 1845, he was ordained in Shanghai, China, thus becoming Korea’s first Catholic priest.

The flick also covers the martyrdom saint, who was persecuted and arrested by the Joseon dynasty for his efforts of evangelization. The following year, he died as a martyr at the age of 25. The movie also covers the saint’s love for God.
Highlighting the importance of the film, director Heung-shik said, "He didn't know the modern era,’ Park explained, “but he made a huge effort to open a way in for the sake of the Korean people.”