KBS is set to unveil its ambitious three-part documentary series 'World 1945' on August 10, 2025. Talented actress Kim Seo-hyung has been selected as the narrator, promising a special viewing experience.
The KBS1 special three-part documentary 'World 1945', which will first broadcast on August 10 at 9:30 p.m., sheds light on the formation and operational principles of global dominance based on three key themes—oil, nuclear, and dollar—that greatly impacted the survival of Korea after the end of World War II in 1945.
Actress Kim Seo-hyung will narrate 'World 1945', vividly conveying the swirling tides of history that connect power. A talented actress, Kim has solidified her status as a 'trustworthy actor' through her strong presence across various characters in works such as 'SKY Castle,' 'Mine,' and 'Paper Moon.' In Part 1, titled 'The Black Blood of Desire, Oil,' Kim will bring to life significant moments in history with her distinctive deep voice and clear diction, depicting scenes from the battlefield where tanks halted, the flames of oil fields, and pivotal meetings of fate, further raising expectations.
Posters for the three parts of 'World 1945' were also released. The poster for Part 1 captures a historical moment just after World War II's end in 1945, showing U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt—who died just two months later—meeting with the Saudi king to secure Middle Eastern oil resources. This poster signifies the dawn of an era where oil becomes synonymous with 'power'. The main content will explore why 'oil' came to dominate the world post-World War II.
The poster for Part 2 features bombers and mushroom clouds reminiscent of 'nuclear', alongside real figures from the 'Potsdam Conference'—Truman, Churchill, and Stalin. 'Nuclear' was also the 'key to destruction' that ended the world wars. However, 'World 1945' will portray the true story of the 'Cold War era' that began with nuclear, as indicated by its subtitle 'The Journey of Death'.
The final part, Part 3, will highlight the beginnings of economic hegemony that transformed the world order around the dollar. As such, the poster for Part 3 features U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Harry Dexter White and British economist John Maynard Keynes, who represented the U.S. and the UK at the Bretton Woods Conference, smiling broadly at each other. Their images overlap with images of gold coins and dollars, piquing curiosity about the origins of the 'dollar power' that continues to influence global affairs today.
Each poster captures a moment from the intertwined history of real figures surrounding the 'absolute ring of the modern world'—oil, nuclear, and dollar—creating a heavy atmosphere reminiscent of a film. In particular, the phrase inscribed on the poster, 'It began then,' suggests that the present in 2025 is linked to the past, and that the future will also be tied to the vast currents created by the past and present, which 'World 1945' is expected to illuminate.
The KBS special three-part series 'World 1945' featuring Kim Seo-hyung's narration will first air on the 10th at 9:30 p.m. with Part 1 titled 'The Black Blood of Desire, Oil.' Following that, Part 2 'The Journey of Death, Nuclear' will air on the 17th, and Part 3 'The Weight of the Crown, Dollar' on the 24th.
[OSEN]