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Asian cinema: Korean films
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Giant panda and her South Korean keeper focus of ‘heartwarming’ film on animal-human bond

Hello, Grandpa tells the story of Fu Bao, a giant panda born in South Korea, the ‘fairy tale’ bond with her keeper and departure for China

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A still from Hello, Grandpa. The documentary traces the journey of Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in South Korea, and her special relationship with the zookeeper who raised her, ahead of her relocation to China. Photo: Acomz
The Korea Times

By Baek Byung-yeul

Giant panda Fu Bao is one of the stars of an upcoming documentary.

Hello, Grandpa traces Fu Bao’s journey, from her birth at Everland, an amusement park in Yongin, South Korea, to her permanent relocation to China earlier this year, with a focus on her relationship with Kang Cheol-won, the zookeeper who raised her.

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In particular, the film chronicles the three months leading up to Fu Bao’s separation from Kang, including the panda’s daily routine.
An animated scene from Hello, Grandpa. Photo: Acomz
An animated scene from Hello, Grandpa. Photo: Acomz

The film is a documentary with animated scenes mixed in – a first in Korea, according to its production company Acomz.

Born in July, 2020, Fu Bao is the first giant panda born through natural breeding in Korea. Her parents, Ai Bao and Le Bao, had been sent by Xi Jinping in 2016 as a symbol of friendship between China and South Korea.
Fu Bao became a nationwide sensation during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many Koreans visiting Everland and watching videos about her.

In accordance with an endangered species conservation agreement that stipulates loaned pandas from China and their offspring be returned to China before they reach the age of four, Fu Bao left Korea in April and is now at the Wolong panda reserve in China’s Sichuan province.

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