South Korean Cinema: Global themes and national cinema

South Korean Cinema Sci-fi: addressing global themes through national cinema

'The Host'

Directed by Bong Joon-ho, The Host is a Korean science fiction film released in 2006. The film follows a Korean family as they try to retrieve their daughter who was snatched by a monster which emerged out of the Han River. Having been in contact with the monster, the family is quickly put in quarantine: their main obstacle to rescuing the young girl. The army claims the quarantine is to stop a deadly virus hosted by the monster. 

Some scenes eerily resemble the fear and chaos that was experienced by the world in 2020 as the Covid-19 virus spread internationally. One particular news sequence shows a news program with images of crowded airports and people in protective hazmat suits, a portrayal which closes in on reality. 

Science fiction: an internationally recognised genre

The Host (2006) being a science fiction film, its codes are recognisable to audiences worldwide, despite local contexts influencing the narratives told. The film presents a man-made lab-born monster which supposedly spreads a deadly virus to the population. The themes explored, like fear, anxiety and alienation are quite popular in Hollywood cinema and integrate themselves into Science Fiction genre films (source - Chapter 5). This is true for other Korean films like Train to Busan by Yeon Sang-ho (2016). This film reflects typical zombie narratives of Hollywood films through its depiction of a spreading zombie apocalypse in South Korea. This enables the film to integrate itself within the Horror genre by addressing similar themes of alienation and fear. This demonstrates the versatility of national cinema in South Korea and its ability to integrate itself on the global stage.

Whilst Hollywood cinema is often seen as the reference for the definition of certain genres, it should not be portrayed as monopolising how genre films are constructed. Simply, the recurrence of key themes in genre films, like science fiction, creates a common reading grid for international audiences both in Hollywood and national cinemas. This might make international audiences more receptive to national cinemas, which they are less likely to be exposed to, as they sense some familiarity in the narrative structure and storytelling. 

Critical views on the West

The Host presents a critical view of the West and more precisely of the USA's presence in Korea. Indeed, The Host (2006) addresses local themes by looking at the tension between South Korean and American scientists and anti-American sentiment as the American scientist is shown as responsible for leaking the toxic waste (source). The representation of this sentiment runs deeper in Korean history and although anti-American is represented here, its extent depends on the political spectrums (source). The showcasing of these specific national experiences and sentiments engrain the film in the national geopolitical context. This in turn reflects the importance of national cinema which forms a counter-narrative against the dominant Hollywood current.