‘Parasite’ provides insight into South Korea’s social hierarchy
After winning four Academy awards, Bong Joon-Ho’s film sparks discussion of vast social inequalities
Director Bong Joon-Ho’s recent movie “Parasite” is shining a light on the hierarchy system and the social class in South Korea that dates back to the early times. With four awards out of six nominations, “Parasite” became the first foreign language film to win an Academy award in more than one category.
The place a person comes from depended on the status of who was in power, said Dr. Edward E Pratt, faculty in the Department of History at Florida Atlantic University. He said the position and the family name was essential to people. The people in the higher hierarchy always looked down on the poor said Pratt.
The importance of the family line relates to history and heritage, with South Korea being rich in studies and culture. A child growing up wealthy becomes a respectful adult with more opportunities for success. Honoring the parents and the ancestors is important in the Korean system, said Pratt.
Children growing up in South Korea are affected by the hierarchy/class that is present in society. “I think children have a [bigger] impact because they have different experiences and different thoughts depending on their parents,” said Hyeontae Jeon, a media major exchange student from South Korea at Florida Atlantic University. Jeon said that if the parents have a lot of money, children grow up in a more leisurely way. Compared to the parents that do not have much money, they will live a different life, starting a part-time job at an earlier age due to the pressure on the money.
Income inconsistency is a significant issue in South Korea, with the top 10% of South Koreans holding 66% of the country’s wealth. The Washington Post points out that job prospects are often tied to family and education that favor those more privileged. A child from a well-known family has a higher chance of going to a better university. A better university then leads to a better job.
“Parasite”, the first non-English film to win for best picture, tells the story of the poor Kim family who, through schemes, raise to the wealthy Park family by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. The greed and class discrimination threatens the new relationship between the Park and the Kim family. The Kim family lives in a banjiha, semi-apartments in South Korea, while the Park family lives in a luxious, two-story mansion style home.
According to a Los Angeles Times article, the film brought back memories of the past to those who have lived in banjiha dwellings. Banjihas initially were illegal to be rented out. It all changed in the 1980s during a housing crisis, where the government compelled to legalize these semi-apartments for living. The UN noted in 2018 that although South Korea is the 11th largest economy, the country lacks affordable housing, especially for the poor or young adults.
In 1968, North Korean commandos would slip into Seoul to try and assassinate former South Korean president Park Chung-hee. Armed North Koreans invaded South Korea and caused many terrorist attacks, according to BBC.
Although “Parasite” showcases the gap between the poor and rich in South Korea, it is not a real-life show of what life is. Pratt said that it is an “exaggeration of the movie.” Jeon said she thought foreigners would think that is what Korean society is. “It is true that the film reveals the lives of the upper and lower class well, but it is not representative.”
