Radio Days in Korea

First experience is always the most memorable, stimulating, yet often full of mistakes. With the use of comedy genre, the film Radio Days, in relevance to Robinson’s reading, offers a portrayal of what it might have been like when radio was first introduced to Korea. As the film suggests, while what has now become commonplace to the point where we as consumers and users (and perhaps victims) of mass media don’t quite realize its massive influence over our minds, the impact of mass media in actual is inevitably immense. For example, the film shows the products that were aired by accident on the radio are sold instantly, such as the red high heels and the chocolate. Thus, in Japan’s meticulously planned hegemony in Korea, Japan’s constant attempt of cultural hegemony through the manipulative use of radio broadcasting in promoting the Japanese propaganda is quite obvious due to the fact that mass media is part of our society that is almost inevitably influential.

K, although he seems quite futile silly at times, also understands that the radio broadcasting is not only a ‘cultural and technological growth in Korea’, but also a tool where Japan will use it as their cultural hegemony. In their attempt to save the country from being manipulated, he shows that he is willing to sacrifice himself and act bravely in front of the Japanese with the guns. Lloyd along with K, although not as directly, is seen not easily complying with the Japanese general’s demands on changing the ending plot. While Marie and MyeongWol’s argument leading to their physical violence against each other clearly portrays the clash between the modern woman(new woman) and the traditional woman, I found the character Soonduk interesting. She is always the one who silently and subtly helping the radio station and she eventually cuts her hair very short at the end.. She seemed like the ideal new woman.

Since the story is fictional, the film obviously does not represent the historical accounts. However, in my opinion, the film appropriately uses the comedic genre to not only portray the Japanese colonial period, but also uses the allegory of mass media to represent modernization occurring in Korea at the time.

Although the film was very funny in my opinion and straightforward with its plotline, several questions came into mind while watching the movie. What was the importance of the satire of contemporary modern drama? What do the citizens’ frenzy over fictional love stories imply? The scriptwriter was harshly criticized and no one wanted to read his work(due to the fact that he wrote about a woman in extramarital affairs?) but later his work became a hit and even presented in the form of a show. So who judges the value and quality of a certain art piece, a script in this case, the minjung? Or is it all fallacy that is manipulated by the mass media? The anachronism in the audition where a guy was beatboxing was hilarious. But is it solely for comedic purposes or..?