S Korean cinematic rise years in the making, says 'Squid Game' star

A good example of government directed economy that works, along with S. Korean steel industry, cars, electronics. It worked also in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Smash hits like "Squid Game" and "Parasite" may make it look easy, but Emmy-winner Lee Jung-jae says South Korean cinema spent years learning how to reach unprecedented global audiences through stories about the competitiveness and violence of modern life.

South Korea embraced free market capitalist financialization and has suffered from it , while some have prospered.

One of the upsides has been its vibrant media that both embraces high production values and glossy images, while criticizing rentier inequality and the contradictions of capitalism.

Both "Squid Game" and "Parasite" are stellar examples of this.

With the well-deserved recognition I hope the best is yet to come.

Meanwhile in Japan…

@kibousha

A good example of government directed economy that works

I don't know why the myth persists that Korean entertainment industry is government directed in Japan, it is not.

I LOVE Korean Entertainment. They are really talented and loved by so many people around the world for their movies, dance, singing, and all around star studded powerhouse of amazing people! Keep the good stuff coming Korea. ; - ))

There are 3 or 4 Japanese movies that Squid Game took their ideas from so it is nothing groundbreaking. Can't complain, Hollywood is filled with tons of unoriginality.

In contrast to the golden era of Japanese cinema of the 1950s, 60s and 70s today's blasé "Brave New World" of consumerism and social conformity have made Japanese movies critical of the present state of the world redundant and accordingly such works of social criticism are regarded as unprofitable, unattractive and unwanted by investors. The suffocating education system has succeeded in extinguishing intellectual curiosity in many children who believe it profits little to read books.

But, he emphasized, the film is less about Korean history and more about "how this violence is happening all around the world globally,"

Sorry but it seems Korean entertainment seems to justify violence with the excuse that they are "just showing the world as it is."

Even their music videos depict violence ( particularly, misandry and violence towards males)

If people are CONSTANTLY shown images of violence, then they will, inevitably, have violent thoughts. And that's how societies become violent.

Yes, Japanese entertainment shows violence too but usually in an over-exaggerated, unbelievable way ( eg Battle Royale) or at least, to a lesser extent than their Korean or Western counterparts.

Japanese entertainment would rather focus on the complexity of human relationships than violence.