The Story of Our President: An Intimate Look at South Korean Leadership
Our President, the 2017 documentary directed by Lee Chang-jae, takes viewers into the private spaces where major political decisions get made. Rather than the typical talking-head retrospective or scandal-focused exposé, this film centers on the human side of high office — the quiet moments, the doubts, the weight of responsibility that doesn't make it into official statements. The documentary draws on archival footage, interviews, and candid scenes to construct a portrait of what it actually feels like to lead a nation. It's a film that respects its subjects while remaining unflinching about the complexities of power, governance, and legacy. Without spoiling specific revelations, the documentary explores how political figures navigate between their public personas and their private selves.
Behind the Making of Our President and Its Production Journey
Lee Chang-jae directed Our President during a particularly significant moment in South Korean politics, giving the film a certain historical weight that extends beyond its modest theatrical run. The documentary features appearances from notable figures including Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Hwa-chun, Moon Jae-in, Yoo Si-min, Dong Bang-woo, Moon Sung-keun, and Cheon Ho-sun — a roster that reflects the film's access to upper echelons of South Korean political life. While the film earned just one award nomination and pulled in a limited box office of $507,268 during its theatrical release, these numbers don't capture the film's real reach or influence in Korean documentary circles. The production itself required years of access and careful negotiation — you don't simply walk into presidential offices with a camera. Lee's background in documentary filmmaking gave him the credibility to secure such intimate footage, and his restraint as a director means the access never feels exploitative. On IMDb, the film holds a solid 7.3/10 rating from 116 votes, suggesting strong appreciation among those who've sought it out, even if it never became a mainstream phenomenon.
What Makes Our President Stand Out in the Documentary Landscape
Honestly, what's striking about Our President is how it refuses the obvious angles. You'd expect a political documentary to be either a hagiography or a hatchet job, but Lee Chang-jae threads something trickier — a genuine attempt to understand the psychological and emotional reality of holding power. The film captures moments of vulnerability that you rarely see in official records: fatigue, uncertainty, the gap between what leaders want to do and what circumstances allow them to accomplish. The performances, if we can call them that, are compelling precisely because they're not performances — these are people in their own spaces, aware of the camera but not performing for it. What's particularly effective is the way the documentary uses silence and pacing. Long takes of figures at their desks, staring out windows, or in tense conversations create a rhythm that's almost meditative. There's no breathless narration telling you what to think. Instead, Lee trusts viewers to draw their own conclusions from the evidence presented. For those interested in how documentary filmmaking can humanize political figures without sanitizing their records, Movie OTT offers context on how streaming platforms have democratized access to international documentaries that might otherwise never reach English-language audiences.
Where to Stream Our President Online
Our President is currently available to stream on Netflix, making it accessible to millions of subscribers worldwide. If you're tracking down this documentary, the Netflix platform is your direct route — no need to hunt through multiple services. The film's presence on Netflix represents a significant shift in how international documentaries reach global audiences; a decade ago, a South Korean political doc with this level of specificity might have remained confined to festival circuits and specialized screenings. Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability across major platforms, so if you're checking whether a title is on your preferred service, that's the kind of real-time information the site specializes in. Netflix's algorithm may not immediately surface Our President to casual browsers, so knowing it's there — and knowing what to expect — can help you decide whether it fits your current mood for documentary viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Our President?
Lee Chang-jae directed the 2017 documentary. He's known for his careful, observational approach to political and social subjects, and Our President showcases his ability to secure rare access while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Q: Is Our President based on a true story?
Our President isn't based on a story — it is a documentary, meaning it's constructed from real archival footage, interviews, and actual events from South Korean political history. The film doesn't dramatize or fictionalize; it works with primary sources.
Q: Where can I watch Our President?
The documentary is currently streaming on Netflix. You can check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page for real-time platform availability.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Our President?
Our President holds a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb based on 116 votes. While the sample size is modest, it reflects strong appreciation among viewers who've sought out this niche documentary.
Q: How long is Our President?
The documentary's runtime isn't specified in standard sources, but most viewers report it as a standard feature-length documentary, typically between 90 and 120 minutes.
Final Thoughts on Our President
Our President won't appeal to everyone — it's deliberately paced, politically specific to South Korea, and uninterested in sensationalism. But if you're drawn to documentaries that treat their subjects with complexity, that trust viewers to think for themselves, and that offer genuine insight into how power actually operates behind closed doors, this film rewards your attention. It's the kind of documentary that sticks with you, the kind that makes you reconsider assumptions about leadership and legacy. Worth your time.
