The Host

The Host

What stood out for me personally while watching “The Host” was the role the United States played.  In the opening scene, we are seeing an American rudely giving orders to a Korean, orders which not only make the Korean doctor uncomfortable  but which also put anyone in contact with the Han River at risk.  The Korean tries to argue with the American, emphasizing the toxicity of formaldehyde, but the American’s response of “that’s an order” basically gives the Korean no choice.  This jerk of an American doctor is the first American we meet, and as we learn, his orders have serious consequences.  6 years later we’re in Seoul, witnessing a monstrous sea creature emerge from the river and begin to attack. Next, we hear announcements that US forces trained in biological warfare are “dealing with it,” but are refusing to release information.  We hear about the death of Sergeant Donald of the 8th US Army, “who through his act of courage, revealed to the world the existence of the virus.” This is an American newscaster reporting, speaking of the sergeant very highly. However, the US and WHO go on to cite the failure of the Korean government to secure the remaining two infected family members (this was after Gang-du and his father had been apprehended). After that, the Americans publicize their plan to use Agent Yellow, a chemical developed by the US to fight virus outbreaks and biological terror. This results in protests by Korean citizens groups, those who vehemently oppose the use of Agent Yellow. 

In my opinion, the worst scene for the United States is the scene in which the doctor is confessing to his translator that not a single person had actually contracted a virus, not even Sergeant Donald.  The doctor, assuming Gang-du doesn’t understand what he’s saying, tells his interpreter that Gang-du is the US’s last hope; in reality, he means that Gang-du having a virus is the only way the Americans will save face.  Gang-du is forced to undergo what is essentially a brain surgery solely for the purpose of the reputation of the United States. At the end of the movie, we see Gang-du and his Se-joo eating a meal, a statement regarding the Korean virus incident from the US Senate being announced on television in the background.  The US attributed the incident to misinformation.  What was the purpose in portraying the US like this?  In both Anisworth’s and Lee’s writings, they mention the dichotomy of “the West” and “the Other” (Lee 45).  This depiction of the US as a demanding, evasive, untruthful, manipulative country definitely reinforces this dichotomy.