33 Keys to Decoding the Korean Wave #33 K-Quarantine 

#33 “Parasite,” “Kingdom” and the COVID19 Pandemic

 

*한류를 이해하는 33가지 코드 #33 K-방역: '기생충', '킹덤'과 코로나 팬데믹 <Korean version> 

https://www.nyculturebeat.com/index.php?mid=Focus&document_srl=4090858

"Parasite" 

 

 

NYT, "We live in Bong Joon-ho’s Dystopia"

 

“You always follow the line in everything, I hate people who cross the line the most ...”  In “Parasite,” the rich Mr. Park (played by the late Lee Sun-kyun) emphasizes the "line."

 

Director Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite” skillfully portrays socio-economic disparities and class conflicts through the symbolic use of lines and stairs. The impoverished Kim family, led by Mr. Kim (Song Kang-ho), coexists with the affluent Mr. Park's family, forming a parasitic relationship. Mr. Kim’s son tutors, his daughter practices art therapy, father serves as a driver, and mother secures a position as a housekeeper in the Park household, solidifying their parasitic connection.

 

Within this narrative, the Kim family, acting as parasites, devises a scheme to frame the former housekeeper and her husband, who is concealed in the basement of the Park’s mansion—both also labeled as parasites—resulting in their expulsion. The plot takes a gripping turn when the ousted housekeeper pleads with the Kim family for assistance in liberating her husband. This twist introduces a layer of complexity to the story, unraveling a sequence of events that further accentuate the themes of inequality and societal conflict.

 

 

 

It’s Bong Joon Ho’s Dystopia. We Just Live in It/ "Parasite" 

 

Viruses are relentless in their pursuit of living organisms, utilizing infiltration, reproduction, and spreading within the host’s body. Their evolution through mutation enhances infectiousness, creating a fierce survival dynamic with their hosts. Prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic on October 30, 2019, New York Times film critic A. O. Scott recognized “Parasite” as the best film of the year, describing it as “Bong Joon Ho’s Dystopia. We Just Live in It.”

 

 

 

New York Magazine: “Kingdom Feels Like a Nightmare of Now”

 

"Kingdom" 

 

When Netflix premiered “Kingdom,” a Korean historical drama, on January 25, 2019, the talk on social media centered around the gat, the Korean scholar’s hat. However, as the year concluded with the looming threat of the coronavirus pandemic, this zombie drama felt remarkably close to our reality. 

 

In July 2020, during the peak of the pandemic, New York Magazine film critic Matt Zoller Seitz, in a review titled “Kingdom Feels Like a Nightmare of Now,” drew explicit parallels between “Kingdom” and the contemporary global crisis. The series, written by Kim Eun-hee and directed by Kim Seong-hoon/Park In-je, is set in the Joseon Dynasty and revolves around Crown Prince Lee Chang, accused of treason when the deceased king returns to life, and Seo-bi, a female physician who becomes entangled with zombies. It unfolds as a zombie mystery thriller, depicting a desperate struggle to solve a deadly plague. 

 

 

"Kingdom" 

 

Seitz eloquently describes the eerie relevance of “Kingdom”: “Picture a nation already gripped by political chaos that finds itself afflicted by a plague so new that no one understands its properties yet. Its ruler is a demented senior whose underlings use his decline as camouflage for their own agendas. As citizens turn against each other, medical experts operating on the scientific method study the pandemic and present their latest findings to officials at every layer of government. They are met with indifference, stupidity, naked self-interest, and craven pandering to higher-ups. Things keep getting worse. The body count rises. There’s no end in sight.”

 

Seitz emphasizes that “Kingdom” stands out due to its uncanny prescience, framing the zombie narrative within political satire and misanthropic humor. He suggests that the series serves as a moral tale about society collapsing due to a “disease” and the choices made by the uninfected to ensure the survival of loved ones and civilization, all while highlighting corruption, incompetence, and the refusal to heed scientific advice. Despite its historical setting, with swords and horses and stovepipe hats, “Kingdom” felt like a prescient depiction of the world’s nightmare under the COVID pandemic, or a premonition of events occurring just one year after its U.S. debut.

 

 

World media Praise K-Quarantine success

 

 

 

 

Openness, Transparency, Rapid Response – The 3 Ts (Test, Trace, Treatment)

In a March 2020 article titled “How South Korea Flattened the Curve,” The New York Times revealed the secrets behind suppressing the coronavirus without inflicting economic harm. The article outlined four key lessons: 1) Intervene Fast, Before It’s a Crisis; 2) Test Early, Often, and Safely; 3) Implement Contact Tracing, Isolation, and Surveillance; and 4) Enlist the Public’s Help.

 

Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director Scott Gottlieb tweeted, “South Korea is showing Covid-19 can be beat with smart, aggressive public health,” repeatedly citing Korea as a model country. Unlike Europeans and Americans, Koreans were prepared to treat COVID-19 as a national emergency following the 38 deaths during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in 2015.

 

The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin echoed similar sentiments in his March 2020 opinion piece, “South Korea Shows That Democracies Can Succeed Against the Coronavirus.” He argued that, while some believed authoritarian governments would handle crisis management more effectively, South Korea’s success demonstrated that democracies could excel in protecting public health. Rogin contrasted Korea's voluntary civic participation, public education, and transparency with China’s authoritarian response.

 

He noted that South Korea expanded rapid testing, its most effective weapon against the virus. Major public events were voluntarily canceled, church services moved online, and the government encouraged citizens to take preventive measures without locking down the entire city of Daegu, which had a high number of confirmed cases.

 

Korea prioritized transparency and openness over the distortion seen in China’s response. It introduced a three-stage quarantine network for departing travelers at Incheon International Airport to prevent the virus's spread abroad. Furthermore, Korea’s willingness to accept criticism and review strengthened its response.

 

 

 

In September 2020, The Wall Street Journal highlighted South Korea’s successful pandemic management in the article "How South Korea Successfully Managed Coronavirus." The newspaper attributed this success to a unique blend of technology and testing, centralized control and communication, and a pervasive fear of failure. As cases emerged, the nation swiftly approved and distributed domestic testing kits.

 

A critical factor in South Korea's success was the widespread use of masks and the mandatory isolation of every confirmed patient, even those with mild symptoms, in government-managed hospitals or converted dormitories—all provided free of charge. As a result, South Korea avoided a nationwide lockdown, allowing restaurants and businesses to remain open and mitigating economic impacts.

 

Quoting Dale Fisher, chairman of the World Health Organization’s global outbreak alert and response network, the WSJ stated, “No country has adapted to living with and containing the virus like South Korea.”

 

 

 

Meanwhile, in March 2020, the BBC examined effective leadership during crises in an article titled “Covid-19: What Makes a Good Leader During a Crisis?” highlighting South Korea’s rapid response as an exemplary demonstration of crisis management principles. The country had proactively stockpiled coronavirus testing kits before the outbreak, facilitating daily tests for up to 10,000 people as infections surged. A mobile app provided citizens with constant updates on the evolving situation.

 

The BBC attributed part of South Korea’s success to President Moon Jae-in’s clear and consistent messaging. From the outset, the public was prepared to view the outbreak as a national emergency, supported by regular television broadcasts and subway announcements reminding citizens of the imminent danger.

 

 

“Koreans’ hobby is overcoming national crises.”

President Moon Jae-in at the G20 video conference on March 26, 2020. Source: ABC News

 

“Citizens! This is an announcement from the Civil Defense Headquarters!”

During the 1970s and 1980s, Koreans engaged in civil defense training for 30 minutes to the sound of sirens at 2 pm on Civil Defense Day, the 15th of every month. Schools actively participated, with students repeatedly practicing taking cover under desks during class.

 

Owing to its geographical vulnerability as a peninsula, Korea has faced repeated invasions from China and Japan. The Korean government responded by establishing the Civil Air Defense Headquarters in January 1951, less than a year after the Korean War broke out. Since 1972, the 15th of every month has been designated as Civil Defense Day, conducting evacuation drills to prepare for war and various disasters. Following Vietnam’s communist takeover, the Civil Defense Corps, consisting of regular men and volunteer women aged 20 to 40, was established in 1975. 

 

In March 2020, a special G20 video conference was held as an emergency to seek cooperation measures against COVID-19. The Washington Post, ABC News, and Fox News in the U.S. featured a photo of President Moon Jae-in watching videos of world leaders in the Blue House office for the AP article. It was a recognition that South Korea had emerged as a “role model” for COVID-19 quarantine. As of April 2, Korea has received requests for help with COVID-19 screening from 121 countries worldwide.

 

A popular English proverb states, “cometh the hour, cometh the man”— the idea that the right leaders emerge during times of crisis. Koreans have an inherent DNA to cope with crises, living under the constant threat of war. The COVID-19 outbreak transformed a crisis into an opportunity for Korea. Successfully combating the pandemic with the 3Ts of K-quarantine (Test, Trace, Treatment), Korea’s COVID-19 quarantine has become a model for the international community. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), led by Korea, established a new organization dedicated to international standardization in response to infectious diseases.

 

Through the coronavirus pandemic, Korea has showcased not only its K-Quarantine efforts but also the leadership and good citizenship of its president. As someone said, “Koreans’ hobby is overcoming national crises.”

 

Bong Joon-ho and Jung Eun-kyeong Selected for the 2020 “Time 100”

“Parasite” Foreshadows the Coronavirus Pandemic

"Parasite" / "Kingdom" 

 

Director Bong Joon-ho achieved a historic sweep at the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9, 2020, securing four Oscars in categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Approximately 10.4 million American viewers witnessed the Korean film’s triumph.

 

About a month later, on March 12, cultural performance institutions in New York entered lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iconic venues such as Broadway theaters, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) shut their doors, and Times Square, deemed the “heart of the world,” was transformed into a deserted square devoid of tourists. The pandemic froze the economy, society, and even daily life in New York City. 

 

As people grappled with the virus, there was a collective effort to maintain the “social distancing line” of 6 feet. Prior to the pandemic, Director Bong Joon-ho had eerily hinted to the world that “the line between people should not be crossed.”

 

 

 

In September of that tumultuous year, as the world grappled with the pandemic, TIME magazine recognized Bong Joon-ho and Jung Eun-kyeong, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), as two of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2020.” They shared this distinction with Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 

 

President Moon Jae-in praised Commissioner Jung Eun-kyeong for her contributions to the nation’s successful anti-virus efforts.  President Moon wrote, “Dr. Jung Eun-kyeong, commissioner of KDCA, has led the nation’s antivirus efforts to success by candidly interacting with the public, based on the principles of openness, transparency, and democracy. ... As the first female chief of KDCA and also a preventive-medicine specialist, Commissioner Jung has enhanced the organization’s preparedness. ... I believe Commissioner Jung’s decency and dedication are indeed a story worth telling—one that will serve as an inspiration for the many Commissioner Jungs around the world desperately fighting COVID-19, and for humanity as we advance toward the post-COVID-19 era.”

 

In November of that year, Commissioner Jung Eun-kyeong earned the title of “Virus Hunter” by the BBC and was also selected as one of the “100 Women of 2020.”

 

Beyond the Pandemic: The Enduring Lessons of K-Quarantine

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the intricate relationship between culture, society, and public health, as illustrated by the powerful narratives in Parasite and Kingdom. Bong Joon-ho’s "Parasite" serves as a poignant reflection on social inequality, highlighting the disparities that became even more pronounced during the pandemic. Similarly, "Kingdom" resonates with audiences navigating a world fraught with fear and uncertainty, drawing parallels between the fictional zombie apocalypse and the real-life challenges posed by a global health crisis.

 

As South Korea adeptly managed its response to the pandemic, it showcased a model of resilience rooted in transparency, community engagement, and rapid action. The recognition of key figures like Bong Joon-ho and Jung Eun-kyeong in international media underscores the importance of effective leadership and the role of cultural narratives in shaping public perception and behavior.

 

 

In the wake of these events, the K-Quarantine experience not only highlights the effectiveness of South Korea's public health strategies but also emphasizes the enduring power of storytelling in times of crisis. As the world continues to confront the realities of a post-pandemic society, the lessons learned from these narratives will resonate, reminding us of the shared human experience and the vital role of culture in overcoming adversity.

 

 

Sukie Park 

A native Korean, Sukie Park studied journalism and film & theater in Seoul. She worked as a reporter with several Korean pop, cinema, photography and video magazines, as a writer at Korean radio (KBS-2FM 영화음악실) and television (MBC-TV 출발 비디오 여행) stations, and as a copywriter at a video company(대우 비디오). Since she moved to New York City, Sukie covered culture and travel for The Korea Daily of New York(뉴욕중앙일보) as a journalist. In 2012 she founded www.NYCultureBeat.com, a Korean language website about cultural events, food, wine, shopping, sightseeing, travel and people. She is also the author of the book recently-published in Korea, "한류를 이해하는 33가지 코드: 방탄소년단(BTS), '기생충' 그리고 '오징어 게임'을 넘어서 (33 Keys to Decoding the Korean Wave: Beyond BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game)." 

 

 

 

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