Artist Seo Yong-sun Honors King Danjong Through 40 Years of Painting

As the film "The Man Who Lives with the King" (directed by Jang Hang-jun) heats up domestic theaters, it is bringing renewed attention to King Danjong, the monarch who met the most tragic end in Joseon dynasty history. Attention is also turning to artist Seo Yong-sun, who has quietly captured this tragedy on canvas for 40 years, and his body of work.

Art journalist Cho Sang-in, host of the art and exhibition YouTube channel "Mimi Merchant," introduced Seo's historical painting series "The Tragedy of King Danjong" in a video uploaded on January 25. The title "The Tragedy of King Danjong" is also the name of a historical novel written by Chunwon Lee Kwang-su.

A Fateful Encounter at Cheongnyeongpo: Painting 'Living History'

Seo gave up his stable position as a Seoul National University professor to pursue the solitary path of a full-time artist and continues painting to this day. He depicts human figures across ancient history and modern urban landscapes with his distinctive rough textures and intense colors. He gained wider public recognition after being named "Artist of the Year" by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in 2009.

In 1986, Seo visited Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where he encountered the story of the ill-fated King Danjong and Eom Heung-do, the real historical figure who stayed by his side until the end. Yeongwol has held the "Danjong Cultural Festival" every late April since 1967, honoring the king's spirit for over half a century.

Seo reportedly felt a strong sense of purpose, questioning why such a devastating history had never been reflected in Korean art. Captivated by the "living history" passed down through generations by Yeongwol residents rather than history preserved only in textbooks, Seo began documenting the poignant story of Danjong and Eom Heung-do in his paintings.

Intense Primary Colors and Distorted Forms Confront Tragedy Head-On

Seo's depictions of Cheongnyeongpo use raw, intense primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—to capture the tragedy of history directly. The river winding around Cheongnyeongpo is rendered in a piercingly cold blue. The red earth of Cheongnyeongpo, contrasting with the blue, evokes the young king sacrificed to political ambition. Art journalist Cho interpreted the scene: "The completely still, vivid blue water gives the impression of desperately wishing for peace."

Meanwhile, figures from the Gyeyu Coup—including Danjong, Grand Prince Suyang (later King Sejo), Han Myeong-hoe, and Kim Si-seup—all wear twisted, distorted expressions. This is a characteristic feature appearing throughout Seo's paintings, not just in "The Tragedy of King Danjong." This is most clearly evident in one of Seo's representative works, a self-portrait with bloodshot eyes symbolizing his fierce artistic commitment to "confront history clear-headedly and see the world as it truly is."

More details about the film through the lens of art and in-depth analysis of Seo's works can be found on the art and exhibition YouTube channel "Mimi Merchant."

Why Has Seo Painted King Danjong for 40 Years?

In the film, Yoo Hae-jin's portrayal of Eom Heung-do moved audiences to tears. Eom is depicted as the loyal subject who honored Danjong's final moments when others feared retribution and refused to collect the king's body. Though Eom's name appears only briefly in historical records, the film's imaginative portrayal has deeply resonated with modern audiences. Seo, too, has brought Eom to life on canvas, breathing vitality into a figure preserved only in historical texts.

Seo's 40 years of quietly painting Danjong mirrors the loyalty Eom showed 500 years ago. Art journalist Cho explained: "While the West has many historical paintings, Seo's series was born from his concern that Korea lacked paintings that properly confront its history."

Cho added: "The story of Danjong and Eom shows that in our history, there are always those who suffer because of power-hungry individuals, and those who stand against them. I hope people will take greater interest in Seo's works, which help us understand historical significance in contemporary terms."

40th Anniversary Exhibition of 'The Tragedy of King Danjong' to Open with Accompanying Book

Seo will hold exhibitions marking the 40th anniversary of his "Tragedy of King Danjong" series in April at four Seoul galleries (Discourseon Art, Gallery Meem, Gallery JJ, and Artspace 3) and at the Yeongwol Tourism Center exhibition hall. A related book is also planned for publication.

The film "The Man Who Lives with the King," set in Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, tells the heartbreaking story of the young deposed King Nosan-gun (played by Park Ji-hoon), who lost his throne in the 1453 Gyeyu Coup led by Grand Prince Suyang, and the historical figure Eom Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin) who stayed by his side until the end.

With powerful performances from Yoo Ji-tae as Han Myeong-hoe, Jeon Mi-do as court lady Maehwa who remains loyal to Danjong, Park Ji-hwan as the Yeongwol county magistrate, and Ahn Jae-hong as the village chief of Norugol, combined with director Jang Hang-jun's signature warmth and humor, the film has maintained the top box office position for 15 consecutive days as of January 27, with cumulative audiences reaching 6.73 million.