Life of Korea's 1st Catholic priest returns to small screen for Christmas season
Actor Yoon Si-yoon, right, as St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, in a scene from tvN drama “Young Kim Taegon” / Courtesy of Minfilm
As the holiday season unfolds, tvN is broadcasting a special three-part drama, “Young Kim Taegon,” offering an emotional look into the extraordinary journey of St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-46), Korea’s first Catholic priest. The first episode aired on Christmas Eve.
The drama is based on the 2022 film “A Birth.” Its production company, Minfilm, said the television adaptation covers a wider narrative range than the big-screen version, having restructured the story to emphasize the human side of Kim, portrayed by actor Yoon Si-yoon.
Born in 1821, Kim was a pioneer who became the nation’s first Catholic priest. At the age of 15, he traveled to Macao for seminary studies and was ordained as a priest in Shanghai.
He was executed for his faith at the age of 25 under the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which maintained a strict anti-Catholic policy at the time. In 1984, he was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II.
Actor Yoon Si-yoon, right, as St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, in a scene from tvN drama “Young Kim Taegon” / Courtesy of Minfilm
The original film gained attention when it premiered in Vatican City in 2022. To provide deeper context of Kim’s inner struggles during his difficult years of study and mission, the tvN version includes several new sequences, the production company added.
The drama depicts the saint’s life as a thrilling adventure. At just 15, Kim left Korea for Macao to study, eventually learning to speak five languages, including Latin, French and Chinese.
A highly anticipated part of the series might be the exploration of Kim’s time in prison, the production company said. One especially touching scene shows him talking with the police chief. In this moment, the chief asks Kim to translate a world map, even as he breaks the painful news that Kim’s close friend has been arrested.
“The TV drama format allows for a more accessible and emotionally resonant experience,” director Park Heung-sik said. “We wanted to fill the gaps left by the film, showing the trepidation and courage of a youth standing at the crossroads of history.”
Following its three-day run on tvN through Friday, a six-episode version will be made available on streaming platforms to provide more details of the priest’s life.