Beloved Fu Bao’s tale to hit Korean cinemas

Fu Bao, Korea’s first native-born giant panda, is set to return to the country next month — on the big screen.

At a press event Thursday promoting the upcoming documentary “My Dearest Fu Bao,” director Shim Hyung-jun described it as a “fairytale-like 홀짝게임 touching story” chronicling the three months leading up to Fu Bao’s departure, as seen through her caregivers’ eyes.

“It feels incredibly touching and almost unbelievable to complete the documentary,” said Kang Cheol-won, Fu Bao’s primary zookeeper, known as the “panda grandfather.”

“I was initially concerned about how we could make the movie both moving and fresh, given that people were already familiar with Fu Bao,” he said.

Addressing these concerns, the director focused on capturing the zookeepers’ innermost feelings and the deep bond between them and the Fu Bao family.