Before Parasite and Squid Game: The History, Policy, and Dynamics of the South Korean Film Industry

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the history of South Korean film industry which had some modern success in terms of recognition and commercial performance. South Korean film's modern success is exemplified by Parasite which became the first non-English film to win the Academy Awards for Best Picture in 2020. South Korea has also become a major content producer on streaming platforms, with Squid Game becoming Netflix's most-watched series in 2021. The world may have recognized the potential of Korean film recently yet South Korean film industry has evolved over 100-year history. The history of Korean cinema began with the introduction of moving pictures in 1903, with the first Korean film, Fight for Justice (1919), marking a significant step despite being a kino-drama. The film industry was faced by many challenges throughout history, but continue to grow the industry utilizing the creativity and adopting to the developed technologies.