A Taxi Driver - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is purely financial: the 100,000 won fare. This gradually shifts to a desire for self-preservation and protecting his daughter. His final motivation becomes moral: a sense of duty to the people he has met and the responsibility to help expose the truth.

Man-seob begins as a cynical and apolitical widower, focused solely on earning money to pay his rent and care for his daughter. He sees student protestors as a nuisance. His journey to Gwangju is purely transactional. Witnessing the horrific violence and the profound humanity of the Gwangju citizens forces him to confront his own conscience. His turning point comes after he initially leaves Gwangju but is overcome with guilt, ultimately choosing to return and risk his life to help Peter. He evolves from a passive bystander into a man of principle who understands his role in a larger historical struggle.

His primary motivation is his professional and moral duty as a journalist to document and expose injustice. He believes the world must know what is happening in Gwangju and is willing to risk his life to ensure the story gets told.

Peter's character is relatively static, but his resolve is tested. He arrives with a clear, unwavering purpose: to report the truth. He acts as the film's moral compass, consistently pushing Man-seob to understand the gravity of the situation. While he starts as just a client, he develops a deep, unspoken bond with Man-seob, recognizing the taxi driver's inherent goodness. His arc is about fulfilling his journalistic duty while also coming to deeply respect the courage of the ordinary people, especially his driver, who make his work possible.

His motivation stems from a deep sense of community, empathy, and moral decency. He sees people in need and feels a natural obligation to help, reflecting the collective spirit of the Gwangju citizens during the uprising.

Hwang Tae-sool represents the spirit of the Gwangju people. He is a kind, warm-hearted local taxi driver who, from the moment he meets Man-seob and Peter, offers help without hesitation. He provides shelter, food, and crucial assistance. His defining moment comes when he leads the other Gwangju taxi drivers in a sacrificial act to block the military, allowing Man-seob's taxi to escape. He embodies the theme of solidarity, showing that resistance is a collective effort.

His motivation is a belief in a democratic future for his country. Despite his fear, he is driven by idealism and a sense of duty to his fellow students and citizens to fight for freedom. He wants the world to know their story.

Jae-sik is a cheerful university student who dreams of winning a song contest but finds himself on the front lines of the protest. His English skills make him a valuable, albeit amateur, translator for Peter. He represents the youth and hope of the pro-democracy movement. His tragic death at the hands of the secret police is a pivotal moment in the film, deeply affecting Man-seob and hardening his resolve. Jae-sik's sacrifice personalizes the immense human cost of the uprising.