[Here is LA] Korean Americans: "Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' is hotter in North America than in Korea"

[Los Angeles=Lee Isul, Entertainment Reporter]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"It's really fascinating. Isn't 'Parasite' the first Korean film to gain more interest from locals than from Korean expatriates?"

LA (Los Angeles) has had a Korean community forming Koreatown since the 1960s, with Koreans pursuing the 'American Dream.' About 130,000 Koreans reside here, and Korean trends spread at the speed of light from famous franchise restaurants to shopping centers. Koreans living locally quickly watch movies that have drawn over ten million viewers or caused buzz in Korea after their domestic release by visiting LA theaters.

What about 'Parasite'? On the 8th (Korean time, the 9th), Koreans met in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, shared unexpected stories. Victoria Kim (28) said, "'International Market' or 'Along with the Gods,' movies that attracted over ten million viewers in Korea, I usually watched them. But we haven't seen 'Parasite' yet. Interestingly, American friends here watched the movie and asked about director Bong Joon-ho and the actors in the film," she said.

"'Parasite' is truly a sensation in the US. Americans were very surprised after watching the movie. I guarantee the reaction is beyond what we feel in Korea. I wonder if this has ever happened before. It's a first-time atmosphere."

Koreans in LA said the reaction to 'Parasite' is unusual. Gina Lee (24) said, "Korean media reports that it is 'hot in North America' or Korean films praised at overseas film festivals are sometimes really hot, but the temperature we feel on the skin is often different." She added, "'Parasite' is highly appreciated locally beyond imagination. Films by directors like Park Chan-wook and Kim Ji-woon also attract local interest, but they were mostly enjoyed by niche fans." She said, "The overall atmosphere we feel on the skin is that 'Parasite' is the most popular."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

'Parasite' was nominated in six categories, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, at the 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars) held on the 9th (Korean time, the 10th) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA. Unusually, the Academy invited all the main cast members of 'Parasite.'

Before the ceremony, Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun, Jang Hye-jin, Park Myung-hoon, Choi Woo-shik, and Park So-dam will walk the red carpet with director Bong Joon-ho. Additionally, editor Yang Jin-mo, nominated for Best Editing; production designer Lee Ha-joon, nominated for Best Production Design; screenwriter Han Jin-won, nominated for Best Original Screenplay; cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo; producer Jang Young-hwan; production manager Park Min-cheol; and assistant director Kim Sung-sik, among the main staff, will attend the Oscars in the US.

Koreans in LA unanimously said that seeing Korean filmmakers on the Oscar red carpet feels like a dream. Jun Kim (38) said, "The Oscars are a big Hollywood event. Glamorous stars gather in one place, and Hollywood is always excited preparing for the festival during this period. But it's unbelievable that Korean filmmakers are on this stage. It's a remarkable event that an Asian filmmaker, not a 2nd or 3rd generation Asian immigrant born and raised in the US, is walking the red carpet. This is truly a shocking event," he said.

He continued, "Director Bong Joon-ho sweeping major North American awards is also very surprising," and added, "'Parasite' succeeding in North America made this possible."

Danny Jung (33), who has never missed attending the Oscars in the past decade, said, "I think director Bong Joon-ho will win a major award at this year's Academy Awards. The atmosphere is unusual. Looking at local media and Bong's activities before the Oscars, we can somewhat predict the awards, and there is a strong expectation that it won't be just a foreign language film award," he said.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.