Synopsis

Dr. Kaff, a world-renowned physicist, plans to destroy the world out of hatred rooted in his Napoleon complex. His former colleague, Dr. Kim, tries to stop him but is killed—leaving behind Robot Taekwon V in the care of his son Hoon, a Taekwondo world champion. Now, Hoon and Robot Taekwon V must join forces to battle the evil “Red Empire” in a desperate struggle for world peace. Robot Taekwon V, the legendary Korean animated film, set box office records when it was first released 31 years ago. However, its existence was threatened after the original prints went missing en route to the U.S. in 1981. Miraculously rediscovered and digitally remastered, Robot Taekwon V revives nostalgic memories for adults while offering a rare glimpse into the roots of Korean animation for younger generations. The colorful characters and imaginative story remain enjoyable, even with the overt anti-Communist themes—an inevitable element of most Korean films from the 1970s. For viewers who grew up during that era, it’s hard not to be moved by this reunion between animated heroes and devoted fans, as each note of the main theme song brings them one step back in time. Choi Ho-seob, the son of the original composer, recorded the theme for this 2006 remastered edition.

Director

Kim Cheong-gi

Kim Cheong-gi began his career in the early 1960s as a comic book artist and contributed original illustrations to works such as Son Goku, Treasure Island, and Golden Bat. Between 1971 and 1975, he produced numerous animated commercials and cultural films. In 1976, he released his first feature-length animation, Robot Taekwon V, and went on to produce over 50 animated films, including the Taekwon V and Ureme (Wuroemae) series. Since 1999, he has served as an adjunct professor in Computer Game Studies at Chungkang College of Cultural Industries, dedicating himself to training the next generation. In 2004, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival.