REPRESENTATION OF POVERTY IN SOUTH KOREA: A CASE STUDY OF BONG JOON-HO’S PARASITE

Muhammad Iqbal, Gonda Yumitro, Havidz Ageng Prakoso

Abstract

South Korea’s transformation into a modern industrial nation and leading global economic power is a remarkable example. Even though the economy is developing rapidly, pockets of poverty still exist, so a practical alleviation approach is needed. This journal article examines South Korea’s economic growth from 2019 to 2024, showing its extraordinary transformation from crisis to one of the most influential global economic forces. Additionally, this analysis includes perspectives from Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite,” which visually shows the social and economic disparities in South Korea, encouraging thoughts about capitalism, poverty, and social class. Methodologically, this research examines well-known national and international journals focusing on how the “Parasite” conception influences the South Korean economy in overcoming poverty. This film depicts social differences through scenes, settings, and dialogue. Various perspectives are used in this discussion, including global development economics and neoclassical growth theory. The recommendations emphasize that vocational skills development, equitable access to education and health services, and sustainable policy implementation in collaboration with the private sector are all important. Ultimately, this article reveals the message of the film Parasite, which illustrates how difficult it is to deal with poverty in South Korea. It also suggests a broad strategy that combines global development economics with local policies tailored to people’s needs.

Keywords

Economic Growth; Global Development; Parasite Film; Poverty; South Korea

Full Text:

PDF

References

Angela, M., & Winduwati, S. (2020). Representasi Kemiskinan dalam Film Korea Selatan (Analisis Semiotika Model Saussure pada Film Parasite). Koneksi, 3(2 SE-Articles), 478–484. https://doi.org/10.24912/kn.v3i2.6480

Anisa, S. (2022). Terungkap! 10 Sisi Kelam Kehidupan di Korea Selatan. CNBC Indonesia. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/lifestyle/20221119185650-33-389545/terungkap-10-sisi-kelam-kehidupan-di-korea-selatan

Darini, R. (2010). PARK CHUNG-HEE DAN KEAJAIBAN EKONOMI KOREA SELATAN. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities UNY, V(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.21831/moz.v5i1.4336

Farahbakhsh, A., & Ebrahimi, R. (2021). The Social Implications of Metaphor in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 9(1), 87–116. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2021.291

Ginting, A. M., & Rasbin. (2010). DAMPAK PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI TERHADAP TINGKAT KEMISKINAN DI INDONESIA SEBELUM DAN SESUDAH KRISIS. Jurnal Ekonomi Kebijakan Publik, 1(2), 279–312. https://jurnal.dpr.go.id/index.php/ekp/article/view/94

Hwang, J., Lee, E.-Y., & Lee, C. G. (2019). Measuring socioeconomic inequalities in obesity among Korean adults, 1998–2015. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091617

International Monetary Fund. (2022). World Economic Outlook database: October 2022. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=542,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LUR,GGXWDG_NGDP,&sy=1980&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1

Kang, J., Park, J., & Cho, J. (2022). Inclusive Aging in Korea: Eradicating Senior Poverty. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042121

Kemalasari, R. D., Azizah, A., Ansas, V. N., & Haristiani, N. (2021). Representasi Sosial Masyarakat dalam Film Parasite : Kajian Semiotika Roland Barthes The Social Representation in Film Parasite : Pendahuluan. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Bahas, 21(1), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.17509/bs_jpbsp.v21i1.36665

Kim, S. (2023). The Political Origins of Persistent Elderly Poverty in South Korea. Pacific Affairs, 96(1), 35–59. https://doi.org/10.5509/202396135

Kim, T., & Lee, S. S.-Y. (2023). Double Poverty: Class, Employment Type, Gender and Time Poor Precarious Workers in the South Korean Service Economy. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 54(3), 412–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2023.2176782

Lee, S. (2019). Role of social and solidarity economy in localizing the sustainable development goals. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 27(1), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2019.1670274

Maharani, A., & Saidi, A. I. (2021a). REPRESENTASI VISUAL HEDONISME PADA FILM PARASITE. Jurnal Ilmiah Seni Media Rekam, 8(1), 3–16. https://jurnal.isbi.ac.id/index.php/layar/article/view/1919

Maharani, A., & Saidi, A. I. (2021b). VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF HEDONISM IN ‘ PARASITE FILM .’ 6.

Nurhidayah, D. (2017). Representasi Makna Pesan Sosial dalam Film Bulan terbelah di Langit Amerika. Jurnal Online Kinesik, 4(1), 141. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/REPRESENTASI-MAKNA-PESAN-SOSIAL-DALAM-FILM-BULAN-DI-Nurhidayah/f790a4a7e2e9dc0dfa40fe2859e78e31658f084f

Syamsyul, A. (2020). Adopsi Inovasi Teknologi dalam e-Government (Studi Kasus: Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang) (Issue 1) [Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta]. http://repository.umy.ac.id/handle/123456789/21679

Trading Economics. (2024a). South Korea Minimum Hourly Wages. Trading Economics. https://tradingeconomics.com/south-korea/minimum-wages

Trading Economics. (2024b). South Korea Unemployment Rate. Trading Economics. https://tradingeconomics.com/south-korea/unemployment-rate

Weaving, S., Pelzer, S., & Adam, M. T. P. (2018). The cinematic moment: improving audience testing of movies. Studies in Australasian Cinema, 12(2–3), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/17503175.2018.1539542

Weon, S., & Rothwell, D. W. (2020). Dynamics of Asset Poverty in South Korea. Social Indicators Research, 150(2), 639–657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02320-z

Wirayudha, R. (2020). Banjiha, Potret Kemiskinan Korea dalam Parasite. Historia.Id. https://historia.id/urban/articles/banjiha-potret-kemiskinan-korea-dalam-parasite-vQJ9a

World Bank. (2024). Population, total - Korea, Rep. In World Bank Group. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=KR

Yoon, L. (2025). South Korea: Gini index | Statista. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/642046/south-korea-gini-coefficient/

Zain, N. ., Valdiani, D., & Puspanidra, T. (2021). Representasi sisi kemiskinan dalam film. Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Ilmu Komunikasi, 5(November), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.33751/jpsik.v5i2.4436

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/jiep.v25i1.94317

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.