Research Paper Undergraduate 2,067 words

Parasite (2019): Capitalism and Class in Korean Cinema

~11 min read 7 sections Arts · Film Studies

Abstract

This paper examines Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning film Parasite (2019) as a lens through which to explore Korean cinema history, government subsidy policy, and the politics of cultural diplomacy. The paper traces the development of South Korea's film industry from a state-controlled cottage industry to an internationally celebrated cinema competing with Hollywood, situating Parasite within that transformation. It argues that the film highlights the theme of capitalism through dark comedy, exposing deep social class divisions embedded in Korean history. Key evidence includes the film's visual symbolism, dialogue, and narrative structure, as well as real-world data on South Korean housing inequality and the country's use of cinema as soft-power nation branding.

Key Takeaways

Introduction: Film research purpose and paper overview
Historical Approach: Korean Cinema and Subsidy Policy: Korean film industry history, subsidies, and quotas
Political and Cultural Context: Political influences and capitalism reflected in Parasite
Nation Branding and Soft Power: South Korea's cultural diplomacy through cinema
Thesis and Central Argument: Capitalism and class embedded in Korean history
Capitalism and Class in Parasite: Scenes, symbols, and dialogue as class evidence
Conclusion: Stairs symbolism and capitalist ideology summarized

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What makes this paper effective

Grounds the film analysis in concrete historical context, linking Korean government subsidy policy and screen quotas directly to Parasite's production circumstances.
Uses specific dialogue excerpts from the film as primary textual evidence to support claims about class ideology and dark comedy.
Connects cinematic symbolism — the stairs, the basement, the Wi-Fi window scene — to broader arguments about capitalism and social stratification, giving the analysis both macro and micro dimensions.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates contextual film analysis: rather than treating the film as an isolated text, it embeds it within layers of historical, political, and economic context. By moving from subsidy policy to nation branding to textual evidence, the paper shows how a single film can serve as a site of intersection between industry history, government policy, and cultural meaning-making.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a broad introduction to film research methodology, then devotes its largest section to the historical development of Korean cinema and subsidy policy. It proceeds to political and cultural context, then nation branding, before formally stating its thesis. The final analytical section applies the thesis by reading specific scenes, symbols, and dialogues in Parasite as evidence of capitalism and class conflict. The bibliography follows Chicago footnote style throughout.

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Essay 2,067 words

Introduction

Research is essential in any field since it provides important knowledge relevant to the subject or study area. Film research is particularly necessary for understanding a film's fictional, non-fictional, or documentary narratives. Storytelling is an art best interpreted through the careful analysis of a selected film. This paper presents film research focused on a contemporary-era movie: the Oscar-winning Korean drama and thriller Parasite (2019). The historical context, production background, and cultural critique of this film will be explored in the sections that follow.

6 Sections Hidden · 1,460 words

Historical Approach: Korean Cinema and Subsidy Policy420 words

The Korean film industry has become a formidable competitor to Hollywood, with its filmmaking and direction acclaimed worldwide. Government funding in the form of subsidies has been crucial to…

Political and Cultural Context220 words

Discerning a clear alignment between the film's style and specific political movements in Korea is difficult, given that the country operates under a central democratic system in which citizens elect their leaders and data on political ideologies remains scarce. Nevertheless, capitalism and the social class system are evident in the…

Nation Branding and Soft Power210 words

South Korea has been working to project its cultural diplomacy through nation branding, seeking to advance foreign policy objectives without unnecessary complications.9 Regardless of growing trends toward de-politicalization and decentralization, Korean culture maintains a position of unilateralism that has been evident in Parasite's private-sector funding and production — a model that has garnered significant international admiration. In this way, a sense of national identity is embedded in…

Thesis and Central Argument60 words

The thesis of this research paper is as follows:

Capitalism and Class in Parasite430 words

Parasite successfully resonated with international audiences despite its entire crew, production company, and filming locations being Korean, because it reflected cultural and class differences that persist throughout the world.11 The film's themes were immediate and legible from its opening scenes, which introduce the contrast and coexistence of its central subject — social inequality. The Kim family is seen residing in a semi-basement apartment in…

Conclusion120 words

The stairs in Parasite symbolize the long historical deprivation of the lower social classes and the desperate attempts of impoverished families to climb the social order. The film as a whole uses dark comedy and thriller elements…

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Bibliography

BBC News. "Parasite: The Real People Living in Seoul's Basement Apartments." February 10, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51321661 (accessed December 2, 2021).

Hempel, Bryan. Class Issues and Identity in South Korean Cinema. October 3, 2020. https://hyperrealfilm.club/reviews/2020/10/1/class-issues-and-identity-in-south-korean-cinema (accessed December 2, 2021).

Kang, Inkoo. Parasite: Notes from the Underground. October 30, 2020. (accessed December 2, 2021). https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7158-parasite-notes-from-the-underground

Lee, Seow Ting. "Film as Cultural Diplomacy: South Korea's Nation Branding through Parasite (2019)." Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2021.

Messerlin, Patrick, and Jimmyn Parc. "The Real Impact of Subsidies on the Film Industry (1970s–Present): Lessons from France and Korea." Pacific Affairs 90, no. 1 (2019): 51–74.

Mirza, Aiden. Parasite and Democracy: A Case for Space. n.d. (accessed December 2, 2021).

Moon, Criss, and Julie Moon. "'Parasite' and the Plurality of Empire." June 23, 2020. (accessed December 2, 2021). https://www.publicbooks.org/parasite-and-the-plurality-of-empire/

Shin, Hyonhee. 'Parasite' Reflects Deepening Social Divide in South Korea. February 10, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-awards-oscars-southkorea-inequality-idUSKBN20414L (accessed December 2, 2021).

Yecies, Brian, and Ae-Gyung Shim. "Contemporary Korean Cinema: Challenges and the Transformation of 'Planet Hallyuwood.'" Acta Koreana, 2011: 1–15.

Key Concepts in This Paper

Social Class Korean Cinema Film Subsidies Nation Branding Capitalism Dark Comedy Screen Quotas Soft Power Class Inequality Cultural Diplomacy