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Bong Joon-ho on May 26 poses with the Palme d'Or, the top award of the Cannes Film Festival, that he earned for his black comedy "Parasite" in Cannes, France. The movie was the first Korean work in the nation's 100-year-long cinematic history to win the honor.


2019 marked the centennial anniversary of Korean cinema but might be remembered more as the year of film director Bong Joon-ho.

His previous films such as "Mother" (2009) and "Snowpiercer" (2014) received global acclaim for their cinematic quality and mass appeal, yet his highly acclaimed black comedy "Parasite" raised his stature in the film world to far higher heights.

On May 26, Bong nabbed the Palme d'Or, the top award of the Cannes Film Festival, at the 72nd edition of the event four days before his black comedy was released in Korea.

His depiction of socioeconomic disparity in the film seems to have captivated not only Korean audiences but those around the world.

"It's so global but in such a local film," said Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, a member of the festival's jury, adding that the movie "spoke in a funny way about something so relevant and urgent and global in such a local film with efficiency."


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Director Bong Joon-ho and the cast of "Parasite" on May 28 hold a media briefing after an advance media screening at CGV Yongsan theater in Seoul. The movie won this year's Palme d'Or, the top award of the Cannes Film Festival.


The Palme d'Or was just the beginning. Bong this year went on to earn 16 individual film awards in countries such as the U.S., Germany, Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan. He also received on Dec. 18 the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Abroad, Bong also won awards from film critics associations in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington and Chicago. "Parasite" has also been nominated for best director, best screenplay and best foreign-language film at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, so all eyes are on how the film will fare in the Oscars.

Foreign media have heaped praise on the director. A.O. Scott, a longtime film critic of The New York Times, said, "What makes 'Parasite' the movie of the year – what might make Bong the filmmaker of the century – is the way it succeeds in being at once fantastical and true to life, intensely metaphorical and devastatingly concrete."

"Whether we like it or not, it's Bong's world we're living in. Literally."

"Parasite" was first released in Korea and later in 36 other countries such as France, Switzerland, Australia, U.S. and Germany. It topped the box office in 19 of these countries including France, Vietnam, Germany and Italy.

The film is slated to be released in 15 more countries early next year including Denmark, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.


Korea.net