Hello there 😊
Today, let’s revisit a film that stirred the hearts of millions:
Director Jang Hoon’s A Taxi Driver (택시운전사, 2017).

🚖A Taxi Ride Toward Gwangju: A Taxi Driver (택시운전사) Review

An Artistic Tribute to the Unnamed Hero

Set in May 1980, during one of the darkest chapters of modern Korean history—the Gwangju Democratization Movement (5·18 광주민주화운동)—this film brings together two unlikely companions:
a German journalist who risked his life to report the truth,
and an ordinary Seoul taxi driver who unknowingly became part of history.

But this isn’t just a film that narrates historical facts.

Beneath its storyline lies a universal message about:

🔹The courage of an ordinary man when faced with truth
🔹Solidarity that transcends borders
🔹And the unshakable power of journalism

🌍 Two Men, One Journey to Gwangju

Kim Man-seob (김만섭), a taxi driver scraping by to support his young daughter in Seoul, picks up a foreign passenger one day.
The man offers him a generous fare to drive down to Gwangju.
Unaware of what’s unfolding in the city, he accepts without hesitation.

But once they arrive, what they find is far from ordinary:
Violent military crackdowns,
Wounded civilians,
and a city silenced by fear.

What began as a simple job soon transforms into a journey of conscience and solidarity.
Through chaos and danger, the two men—who barely understand each other’s languages—become unlikely allies.

🌱 Three Messages That Blossom Through the Story

1. The Awakening of an Ordinary Man

Man-seob is initially indifferent and self-centered—just another man trying to get by.
But as the brutal truth unravels before his eyes,
he begins to act on instinct, not obligation.
His transformation leaves us asking:
“What would I have done in his place?”

2. The Power of Journalism

Peter, the German journalist, is driven by one mission: to document the truth.
His camera captures what domestic media could not.
That footage, later aired in Germany and beyond,
would shake the international community and become a pivotal record in Korea’s road to democracy.

3. Borderless Solidarity

Though they don’t share a language or background,
the two grow closer through shared experience.
They speak not with words, but through the language of truth and empathy.
It’s a moving portrayal of how humanity unites us more than nationality divides us.

🎬 Jang Hoon’s Subtle Yet Striking Direction

Rather than spoon-feeding historical facts,
the director allows us to feel the story through emotion and atmosphere.

Actual newsreel footage is interwoven seamlessly
Close-ups on trembling hands and tear-filled eyes offer raw intimacy
The contrast between the quietness of everyday life and sudden gunfire deepens the shock

At the center of it all is the taxi—
not merely a car, but a vessel of truth and courage.

🎭 Character Analysis

Kim Man-seob

Though fictional, he feels incredibly real.
He is flawed, selfish, even cowardly at times—
but when it truly matters, he changes.
He becomes the kind of person we all hope we could be in moments of crisis.
Song Kang-ho delivers a deeply human and moving performance.

Peter

A journalist with integrity,
and a man who cannot turn away from human suffering.
His unwavering pursuit of truth reminds us of journalism’s highest calling.

Supporting Roles: Hwang Tae-sool, Gu Jae-sik

These characters represent the citizens and students of Gwangju.
Their courage and kindness breathe authenticity into the narrative and embody the collective fight for justice.

🗣️ Unforgettable Quotes

“His English is even worse than mine.” – Man-seob

→ A humorous yet poignant reminder that heartfelt connection transcends language.

“If it’s about repairs, let me pay for it.” – Peter

→ A simple but sincere expression of gratitude for shared courage.

These lines linger long after the credits roll.

🎯 The Film’s Enduring Impact

The film drew over 12 million viewers in Korea alone,
reigniting public awareness of the Gwangju Uprising, especially among younger generations.

Internationally, it was submitted as South Korea’s entry for the 90th Academy Awards (Best Foreign Language Film) and received widespread acclaim.

Most importantly, the film doesn’t just depict the past
it asks us in the present:

“What will you do when it’s your turn to choose?”

🗞️ A Tribute to an Unrecorded Name

A Taxi Driver is based on a real-life encounter between German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter (위르겐 힌츠페터) and an unknown Korean taxi driver who helped him reach and report from Gwangju.

Jurgen Hinzpeter, a journalist reporting on the scene of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980 / Photo courtesy of former Korea Herald photojournalist Park Tae-hong

The moving part?
Hinzpeter never knew the man’s name.
They met only once—briefly—but he never forgot.

“If there is a hero of Gwangju, it is that taxi driver.” – Jürgen Hinzpeter

This film imagines who that man might have been.
It brings him to life through the fictional character Kim Man-seob.
In doing so, it honors not only one man,
but all the unnamed, courageous individuals who shaped history and quietly disappeared.

This is not just a dramatization—
it’s a cinematic tribute to forgotten bravery.

✨ Final Thoughts

As the film ends, a quiet question echoes:

“If I had been there, what choice would I have made?”

And with it, a powerful realization:

Truth often comes to light because someone—ordinary and unseen—chose courage.
A Taxi Driver reminds us that heroes don’t always wear uniforms or hold microphones.
Sometimes, they just drive.

If you haven’t yet seen this film,
now is the time.