MBC radio special marks 150th anniversary of independence fighter Kim Gu's birth

"Such a nation cannot be unhappy even if it tries to be, and cannot fall even if it tries to." (narrated by Son Suk-hee)

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of independence activist Kim Gu, known by his pen name Baekbeom, MBC is airing a special radio program titled "The Country I Want." Three of MBC Radio's most prominent DJs — Bae Cheol-soo, Son Suk-hee and Lee Moon-se — have joined forces to reflect on Kim's sweeping vision for Korea.

MBC Radio announced it will broadcast the special, "MBC Special: The Country I Want — Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Baekbeom Kim Gu's Birth," on Friday.

The program will air on MBC FM4U (Seoul and the greater metropolitan area, 91.9 MHz) from 8:35 to 8:55 a.m., and on MBC Standard FM (Seoul and the greater metropolitan area, 95.9 MHz) from 7:35 to 7:55 p.m., running 20 minutes on each station.

The special focuses on a passage from Kim Gu's memoir "Baekbeom Ilji" — specifically the chapter known as "My Wish" and "The Country I Want," best remembered for the line: "The one thing I want without limit is the power of a high culture." Bae, Son and Lee will each take turns reading Kim's words aloud in their own voices.

Listeners will also hear a restored recording of Kim Gu's voice, reconstructed using AI technology developed by SK Telecom. The program offers a singular experience — Kim's AI-rendered voice and the three DJs reading a single text together, transcending time and space.

Rich sound design further heightens the listening experience. Woven between the DJs' voices are audio vignettes of pivotal moments in modern Korean history, while musician Kim Dong-hyeok, serving as music director, fills the 20-minute documentary with original sound.

"This will be an opportunity to encounter Baekbeom's dream of a beautiful, culturally rich nation, told through the voices of MBC Radio's celebrated DJs — Bae Cheol-soo, Son Suk-hee and Lee Moon-se," the production team said. "With music woven into Kim Gu's writing and a variety of sound effects, it will be content that moves adults and educates children alike."