Parasite cannot be human, yet it became a miracle

Have you ever seen the world-famous film Parasite by director Bong Joon Ho. This topic was chosen based on a recent request from foreign customers interested in Korean cinema. There is a tour exploring the filming locations of iconic scenes from Parasite.

The film visually represents the characters' social statuses, showcasing the stark class differences stemming from wealth. For example, scenes of characters descending stairs in the rain, rainwater rapidly flowing down the steps, the poor family's semi-basement home, and the wealthy family’s house on a hill all illustrate the characters’ social status in the film. Notably, the film explores not only the conflict between the wealthy and the poor but also the struggles between two different families within the lower class. For example, there is tension between the housekeeper's family, who secretly lives in the basement of the wealthy family's home, and the driver's family working for the wealthy owner. This aspect also highlights the complexities and conflicts between the two lower classes.

I will take people to the three main filming locations. The first is “Woori Supermarket”. This is where the poor family's son drinks with a friend after taking over a tutoring position with the wealthy family's daughter. Next to the supermarket are the stairs where the family desperately ran down in the rain. This scene captures the powerful metaphor of falling in social status. Although the film won an Oscar in February 2020, coinciding with the start of COVID-19, the area has since become a pilgrimage site for many international fans. However, the Seoul city government declared this area for redevelopment last year, meaning it will soon disappear from history. This type of architectural space was quite common during my childhood. At that time, South Korea was poor, and many citizens in Seoul lived in these nostalgic neighborhoods filled with memories. We called these areas “moon villages.” In Seoul, which has many hills and elevated regions, the impoverished often lived in high places without proper water and sewage systems. The term "moon village" was used to tease them, implying they lived so high that they could almost reach the moon.😅

The second location features another set of stairs leading to the “Jahamun Tunnel.” This time, things become more serious. As they descend the stairs, they find a tunnel representing despair with no visible end. Unlike in other films where tunnels may symbolize hope, this winding tunnel conveys a deep sense of hopelessness. There’s a small photo zone in the other way for tourists to take pictures, allowing them to recreate a scene from the movie poster.✨

The third location was mainly filmed in a residential area in Seongbuk-dong, where many foreign ambassadors' official residences are located. Bong Joon Ho cleverly chose this site to portray wealth, showcasing tall walls and narrow, steep alleyways symbolizing high social status. (Note that the interior scenes were filmed on a set outside of Seoul; only the entrance of the building was used in the film.) Unlike the poorer areas called “moon villages,” this place is similar to Beverly Hills in the U.S., accessible mainly by private car and favored by the wealthy for its scenic views. Even though it is high up like the moon villages, we wouldn't refer to it as such. (If we had to name it, perhaps we could call it “sun village” instead. 😅) If you get a chance to visit, I recommend exploring the beautiful cafes and tranquil Buddhist temples nearby in Seongbuk-dong as well. Enjoy your adventure!✔️