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Man of Will
Movie

Man of Will

2017 • Unknown

Woke Score
1
out of 10

Plot

Young Kim Chang-soo is placed behind bars, charged with murdering a Japanese person who took part in Empress Myeongseong's assassination. In prison, Kim Chang-soo sees how Koreans are persecuted and grows into a fighter for Korean independence.

Overall Series Review

Man of Will is a historical drama that focuses on the early life of Korean independence activist Kim Koo, then known as Kim Chang-soo. The story follows his imprisonment after he murders a Japanese person believed to be involved in the assassination of Empress Myeongseong. While incarcerated, the protagonist undergoes a transformation, moving past his initial arrogance to become a mentor who teaches his fellow Korean inmates literacy (Hangul) and fosters a spirit of national resistance against the Japanese colonial influence. The narrative champions the traditional Korean identity, the fight for national sovereignty, and the moral growth of a male leader who lifts up the impoverished common man through education and shared purpose.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The plot centers on a national-historical struggle, pitting the oppressed Korean people against the Japanese oppressors. The conflict is defined by national sovereignty and historical injustice, not a 'woke' intersectional hierarchy or vilification of 'whiteness.' The protagonist's growth and leadership are based entirely on personal merit, courage, and moral conviction, judged by the content of his soul and his service to his people.

Oikophobia1/10

The film’s central theme is the defense and celebration of the Korean 'home' and culture against a foreign, imperial aggressor. The hero's motivation is to avenge and protect his nation and its queen, emphasizing national pride and the value of Korean institutions and language (Hangul) as shields against chaos. The narrative actively promotes gratitude and respect for the nation, the opposite of civilizational self-hatred.

Feminism1/10

Gender dynamics are traditional. The film is a biographical drama centered on the male national hero, Kim Chang-soo, in a masculine setting (a prison). There is no focus on 'Girl Boss' or 'Mary Sue' tropes. Masculinity is protective and is the source of the hero's strength and leadership. No anti-family or anti-natal messaging is present in the core narrative.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is a historical drama focused on nationalism, political independence, and prison life in the late 19th century. There is no presence of sexual ideology, centering of alternative sexualities, deconstruction of the nuclear family, or lecturing on gender theory. The structure is normative and sexuality is private, with the pairing of men and women being the standard historical setting.

Anti-Theism1/10

The protagonist is driven by a strong, transcendent moral sense of justice for his people and nation. The central conflict is moral: justice versus systemic oppression and foreign tyranny. The movie does not display hostility toward traditional religion or a critique of Christianity; the moral framework is based on objective truth—the right of the Korean people to freedom and dignity—and higher moral law.