EBS Documentary Series "Witness of the Era"... From 91-year-old Shin Goo and 99-year-old Nora No to Son Suk-hee, Kim Yoon-a, and Lee Se-dol — 12 masters in a weighty spotlight

The views of 12 people who span the era, tracing turning points in pop culture

EBS presents the documentary series “Witness of the Era.” On its Aug. 2 premiere, actor Shin Goo is in the spotlight. On the Sept. 9 second broadcast, it will spotlight Nora No, a living legend of Korean fashion. Then on Aug. 16 for episode 3, it will be set to feature Kim Dong-ho, the designer of the Busan International Film Festival.

The era that the Republic of Korea has witnessed. People who helped create the times. Stories that must be recorded. Some names become an era. “Witness of the Era” spotlights figures who cut their own path and move through the era across a total of 12 fields, including film, theater, literature, and music. Actor Shin Goo, who has watched over the theater stage for 65 years; fashion designer Nora No; Kim Dong-ho, former executive director of the Busan International Film Festival; novelist Eun Hee-kyung, and others appear, revisiting moments that became a turning point in pop culture.

Backed by his own savings to love younger performers — a sturdy giant of the Korean theater world

In the episode that aired on Aug. 2, the show unveiled the story of 'Shin Goo', 91-year-old and still one of Korea’s top working actors, who had to go onstage in the play 'Waiting for Godot' even on the day of his wife’s funeral procession. He said, “Performances have nothing to do with my personal life. It is a promise with the audience, so personal circumstances cannot come into play,” showing deep accountability and awe toward the stage.

That day’s broadcast compiled the footprints of 'Shin Goo', who began acting during the currency reform period when he was 26 and has watched over the stage for 65 years. In particular, the meaning of 'Shin Goo Scholarships', which supports younger performers using his own savings at Seoul Institute of the Arts, was explored in depth. Scholarship recipient actor 'Yoo Hae-jin' said, “During difficult times, I was able to complete my studies safely and keep acting until now thanks to Mr. Shin Goo’s help,” expressing heartfelt gratitude. Also, younger actor performers such as Jeon Myeong-song, Park Geun-hyung, Jang Young-nam, and Park So-dam showed deep respect by staying by his side.

The runway written by a 99-year-old designer after hosting Korea’s first fashion show

Then, in the second episode released on Sept. 9, the show captured the 100-year fashion philosophy of 'Nora No', a still-active 99-year-old designer.

From Yoon Bok-hee to BTS, an account of Nora No’s life as a 99-year-old designer beloved over 100 years. A woman who boarded the second flight from Korea to the United States in 1947. Korea’s first fashion show in 1956. A 1967 miniskirt-syndrome moment involving singer Yoon Bok-hee. 1970 bell-bottoms for the Pulsar sisters. Korea’s first stage costume director. Korea’s first ready-to-wear clothing production. Korea fashion’s first move into the United States. The founder of Korean fashion and an important figure in the history of Korean women. His life is Korean fashion history itself. The life he lived while leading trends runs parallel to Korean fashion history. The daughter of the late novelist Park Wan-seo, author Ho Won-suk, still enjoys wearing Mr. Nora No’s clothes. Clothes you wear across generations. A gift of confidence and comfort the moment you put them on. A brand that feels a heritage that shines brighter than overseas luxury goods. Mr. Nora No’s life is, in itself, Korea’s representative brand of fashion.

The mavericks who opened up media, AI, and entertainment — the questions they left behind

On the broadcast scheduled for the 16th, 'Kim Dong-ho’s' footsteps as the former executive director who laid the groundwork for the 'Busan International Film Festival' will be highlighted in detail.

In addition, 'Witness of the Era' will meet icons one by one—figures who carved out a distinct path in many fields such as film, theater, literature, and music. Through anchor Son Suk-hee, it analyzes shifts in the landscape of journalism media, and together with Go master Lee Se-dol, it considers what the most human choice is in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

It also completes a set of diverse behind-the-scenes stories shaped by these figures, bringing together singer Kim Yoon-a, who consoles the public through music; director Shin Woo-seok, who changed the advertising industry’s paradigm; world-renowned choreographer Lia Kim; former South Korea soccer coach and legend Cha Bum-kun; film director Byun Young-ju; and broadcaster Lee Kyung-gyu, who has ruled the entertainment world’s top spot for 40 years.