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

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

*Note to Readers

The columns published in the Zoom section of NYCultureBeat contain selected excerpts—typically the opening paragraphs—from each chapter of the book 33 Keys to Understanding the Korean Wave: Beyond BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game (2025). These previews are meant to introduce the book’s themes and tone.

The complete book—featuring 33 updated chapters and new cultural insights—is available in both paperback and hardcover editions:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7HYLVCL

Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7HZ34Y3

© Sukie Park. All rights reserved. These excerpts are for preview purposes only and may not be reproduced in full or redistributed.

"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.

33. K-Quarantine: Parasite, Kingdom, and the Pandemic   474

NYT: “We Live in Bong Joon-ho’s Dystopia”   474

Kingdom and Today’s Nightmare     475

K-Quarantine's Success: The 3 Ts    476

Overcoming Crisis: A Korean Trait   479

TIME 100: Bong Joon-ho & Jung Eun-kyeong    481

Crisis, Culture, and Community   482