I know this is a thrilling moment for both South Korea and the international movie fans in that it is a symbolic moment of acknowledging the value of movies from the neglected. I am concerned that South Koreans will show their typical(sometimes extreme) nationalistic stance towards this kind of achievement, and also some conservatives who think this award is a product of identity politics. However, we should always keep it mind that Parasite itself and Bong himself actually did deserve the Oscars. Great job Bong and the other crews!
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I’m just happy for all Koreans for this recognition. I’ve visited Seoul a couple of times. What a beautiful place! Great people and culture.
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uh puh-leeze! this is such a hypocritical article seeing that jeon do-yeon was the first Korean ever to win an award from Cannes in 2007 and Koreans didn't even know what that was.
also, never mind the fact that Koreans don't really elevate Parasite to the extent of holy grail as much as foreign (i.e. Western) audiences do. not to say that it isn't a great film, only that I know many Koreans are puzzled by its popularity and success abroad.
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I haven't seen Parasite, and I am sure the movie is deserving. The bigger point though is that this movie probably won only after the Academy has made a concerted effort over the last two years to increase the number of minority members, which stood at a paltry eight percent a couple of years ago. Goes on to show we need better representation at all decision-making levels in our society to ensure fairer selection.
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The simple fact is Korean culture became influential to the international community, getting good press from the people all around the world, but the Koreans do not admit and praise themselves what they've done.
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“The Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South Korea by foreign powers against the Koreans’ will at the end of World War II. That history left both Koreas with a deep fear of being ignored.”
Not one of those sentences is close to being true. Nor does one follow from the other even if they were true. Which they are not. As two seconds of thought reveal.
So what is the factual basis for claiming “Koreans”—including ethnic Koreans in China Russia and Japan I assume given this ethnicity usage— have a “deep fear” of being ignored that came into existence at the end of World War Two?
Also note the switch typical of this writer from “Koreans” a description of humans presumably, to the anthropomorphism of two States one north and one South Korea.
And I will take vows of poverty and silence if the writer can prove he knows in fact the “Koreans’ will” at the end of World War Two. World War Two being when the United States of America saved Korea from Japanese colonialism. And China. In fact. The Soviets were there. Why? The US cut a deal with them anticipating a war in Japan that would kill millions.
25th June 1950. When the will of the Korean people was attacked by a Korean.
Today. When the Korean people of South Korea can express their will by choosing their leaders. Even a stooge. And the people of North Korea can starve or die by antiaircraft gun as their feudal lord decrees. Which certain people says always always avoid facing even as their countrymen starve.
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My wife and I can testify that the rarified world of Korea's Gold Spoon elite depicted in "Parasite" does actually exist. We made a point of seeing the film before our first-ever visit to Korea in December. As we walked down the hilly back streets of Seoul's Namsan neighborhood, we saw opulent houses with ornate gates and video reception devices on the front doors, just like in the movie. Chauffeurs polished high end German sedans in the multi-car garages and gave us quizzical glances. We felt like we had stumbled onto the movie's set.
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Dubious editorializing aside, this article made me so happy. Seeing Koreans’ reactions, how could anyone not feel good about this win?
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To be successful, a country must have a large pool of creative people, good literature talents (respect for them as well), recognition of actors and actress, and a movie industry free of nepotism and control...
then you have a chance to produce a good story-telling, wisely directed and acted, and touching movie, which gives the audience an experience of human suffering and struggle..
sounds simple, but we don't see much of it in Hollywood...
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Divided by outside forces and thus craving not to be forgotten? What an odd comment by Mr. Choe. Rather, it should read - divided by outside forces and still struggling against those forces to reclaim its unity as one nation. As I tell my Korean American students often enthralled by K-Pop etc, Korea's true gift to the world is the incredible struggle by ordinary Koreans, often the one's living in Bong Joon Ho's basement, against the massive US military deployments in their country, the destruction of the UNESCO sanctuaries on Jeju Island, the sacrifices of workers and farmers fighting the giant chaebols like Samsung, LG, and Lotte. It's no wonder that the fierce Korean labor movement is an inspiration to the unionists around the world themselves struggling against unprecedented concentrations of wealth and power. Kudos to Bong Joon Ho and his crew, of course, who themselves are fully aware of Korea's true claim to self respect. See it in their powerful statement about US military occupation in their earlier film, The Host.
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@GRL Korea's ordinary citizens do deserve admiration for their struggles and hard work, but you do your students a disservice by characterizing the difficulties they faced/still face as somehow the result of improper or nefarious acts by the US military or chaebols.
Korea found itself caught in a larger fight between stronger powers. That was far from the first time this has happened to Korea or other nations throughout history. The US and China share blame for the initial division, but many geopolitical considerations cause the US to retain a presence, which (for its downsides) has allowed East Asia to flourish. If Korea is currently "struggling" to reunify, they are trying about as hard as OJ Simpson to find his wife's murderer -- every president dangles the possibility to boost popularity but never pushes it knowing it would plunge the economy into a career-destroying deep recession. To not recognize this is the height of naivete.
Development of the chaebols and the economy has not come without inequality, but put things in perspective -- the country was effectively flattened in the 1950s and poorer than most of Africa; it's now on par with southern Europe and its tech leads the world. The labor movement thrives due to cultural solidarity/groupthink but is not necessarily what brought Korea to where it is today. BJH made a great movie but unclear why he should be given more deference on foreign or economic policy than a US entertainer.
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@GRL
Propaganda is just lies claiming to be moral.
Americans were never for the US spending lives in Korea. This is when get the US out of the UN became popular because that was a UN war.
And when I read this propaganda I want the US and the nuclear umbrella gone immediately and let the cannibalism in east Asia commence.
But I keep in mind those who just repeat propaganda do not own “koreans’ will” even though they claim this mandate, as public opinion polls in Korea show once it seems the US will just leave Korea to Kim and Xi.
And not one word about communism in this propaganda.
See West Germany and East Germany for how easy the cure is.
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@UWSer Too many errors in this comment to correct in this space, all born of the popular US narrative about Korea since 1945. A few examples: 1) Korea was not divided by the US and the PRC. The division at the 38th parallel was entirely at US proposal acquiesced to by the Soviet Union. 2) Nuclearization of the Korean peninsula was begun by the US, three years after the signing of the Armistice Agreement in 1953 and in direct violation of its conditions. 3) the chaebols, carry overs of capital accumulation by Korean collaborators with the Japanese colonizers, (1910-1945), amassed economic strength on the backs of common laborers, farmers, and peasants - btw, your "group think" comment betrays your ethnocentrism and cultural ignorance, Regretfully, it is simply not the case that the US rescued Korea from ill-fated communism nor kept Northeast Asia in peace. Imagine for a moment that the PRC had it's largest overseas military base stationed in Canada or Mexico, or for that matter, south of the Mason Dixon line. How might the world look to you then?
2
Korean films have been overlooked for years. Not to mention how their industry is structured to limit the amount of homemade films made showing within their own country.
This was a miracle of sorts and no some appeasement to the PC folks. Parasite deserved its win and I hope that it opens the gates to more of their arts being exposed to a wider audience. Because Korea does put out well-crafted films and dramas.
--a longtime fan of Korean arts who's African American.
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Sorry, but to me (and I saw "Parasite" and didn't like it at all) this speaks of "identity politics"...ie, a non white movie and director were SUPPOSED to win this year.
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It was so good though
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Oh father....
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@RLiss Consider the possibility that you missed something. There´s no great film that everyone appreciates.
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Oscars, Shmoshcars…
Reading this piece, I was just struck with envy for South Korea's President Moon's intellectual eloquence, in contrast to the gross monstrosity our country is getting ready to install again in the Oval Office - by immoral vote and by equally immoral abstinence from the grave responsibility of voting in a democratic republic.
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@common sense advocate We get the president we deserve. Five and nine years ago voters and the media couldn't get past laughing about how wooden and stiff Jeb and Mitt were. Well, they got their down-to-earth populist. Who's laughing now?
3
@common sense advocate current Korean president is a communist and only wants to score points with Kim Jung Un
1
This is history making and a well deserved award. Millions of Parasite fans and fans of Bong's movies, affectionately called #BongHive, cheered in excitement and wonder when the top award was announced. The Academy finally acknowledges and recognizes the fantastic works of so many international films. This is a monumental leap forward for the Academy in its thinking and I applaud them for doing so, to be a once American only film festival to become more global in its influence. I hope thus is only the beginning of what is to become. I am excited as a film aficionado and hope for many more amazing films from around the world.
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