Young David Yonggi Cho brings a 70-year-old diary to theaters
The documentary opens Sept. 11 with David Yonggi Cho’s handwritten illness diaries, 10,000 archived tapes, and restored sermon audio.
A handwritten diary revealed after 70 years and 10,000 archival records
The documentary film 'Young David Yonggi Cho,' which chronicles the life of the world-renowned pastor David Yonggi Cho, is set to be released on September 11. Rather than merely listing his achievements, this work focuses on the records of his youth when he stood at the edge of despair. For the first time on screen, David Yonggi Cho's handwritten illness diaries and previously unreleased records, which had remained veiled for 70 years, have been brought to life.
To complete the film, director Kwon Hyuk-man spent 900 days tracking down and collecting a massive archive of 10,000 tapes. The film also includes audio of David Yonggi Cho's sermons from when he was 33, restored using modern technology. The film is rated G (General Audience) with a running time of 99 minutes.
From a 19-year-old boy's terminal diagnosis to the Daejo-dong tent church
The film covers the youth of David Yonggi Cho, who was given a terminal six-month diagnosis due to pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 19. It captures the process of a young man despairing amidst the scars of poverty and war finding a new life through the Gospel. It follows his trajectory from starting in a small 24-pyeong tent church next to the Daejo-dong cemetery to expanding into global missionary fields.
Actor Yang Dong-geun provided the voice for the inner self of the young David Yonggi Cho in his 20s, while singer Yoo Yul handled the narration. Director Kwon Hyuk-man has previously directed KBS's 'Environment Special' and 'Tracker 60 Minutes,' as well as the Christian documentary 'Determination to Die for the Faith.'
10 promotional stills released and production details
The 10 released promotional stills include black-and-white photos from his youth, family photos, images of the Daejo-dong tent church, worship scenes, and overseas missionary activities. An interview scene with Pastor Lee Young-hoon of the Yoido Full Gospel Church is also included.
The main trailer intercuts scenes of David Yonggi Cho's ministry with black-and-white records of his youth in 1955, when he was crying out while coughing up blood. The film 'Young David Yonggi Cho' is produced by Kwon Film and co-distributed by Movie Special SMC and CITES.
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