The Host (2006) by Bong Joon-ho is a Korean blockbuster that has
amassed large nationwide fame. It broke the domestic hit record, with 13,010,000
viewers in the nation. According to Lee, the box office success of the movie
marks a “disjuncture between the nationalist ideology appropriated by the
domestic film industry and its economic interests.” (Lee, 54) This is because
the movie does not incorporate an overtly nationalist sentiments and tackle any
particular Korean issues.
There were few scenes
where foreigners were casted to play the civilian role. This made me think of
the ethnic nationalism that Shin mentioned. It was suggested that Koreans feel
less related to foreigners living in Korea than Koreans living abroad. However,
the movie The Host portrays
foreigners crying amidst the Korean population, very naturally. Does this
detail provide a base for the argument for similarities to Hollywood movies?
In my opinion, The Host incorporated many details that
still were appealing to the Korean audience. In the scene where the whole
family were having a meal, we could see the family members giving food to the
youngest child and taking care of her. This emphasis on family not only
attracted diverse segments of the audience, but also related to Koreans’
importance of family.
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