Author: Abigail Varnado

Director Bong Joon-Ho: Popular Films and What’s Next

The South Korean writer, producer, and director Bong Joon-Ho should be on everyone’s “to watch” list. With socially conscious films filled with lots of dark humor, he has made quite the name for himself worldwide. On the anniversary of the Oscars, it is fair to say that we should all be reminded of his great works, starting with his Oscar-winning film Parasite.

Parasite

Image from Microsoft

Parasite (made in 2019) quickly became popular around the world. With its relevant rhetoric regarding classism and greed in Seoul, the film displays a tough reality through the dynamics between the poverty-stricken Kim family and the wealthy Park family. This kind of story is relatable in any country, which is probably why it became so popular. Understanding people and what it means to struggle through this dark satire is probably what won Bong Joon-Ho an Oscar.

In 2020, Parasite won an Oscar for the Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film categories. The film also received an 8.6/10 rating on IMDb and a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is well deserved. To stream this Oscar-winning film by Bong Joon-Ho, you can find it on Hulu.

Okja

Image from TheKoreaTimes

Okja is another popular movie from 2017 by director Bong Joon-Ho. However, instead of classism, this movie focuses more on the environment and animal activism. The film follows Mija, a young girl, who is friends with the super pig Okja. Okja is separated from Mija in South Korea and taken to New York by the Mirando Corporation in preparation for slaughter. Mija searches for a way to bring Okja home alive with the help of the Animal Liberation Front. As the film sheds light on capitalism and animal cruelty, one can easily see the parallels between the film and reality.

Okja received seven awards and 21 nominations in 2017 and 2018 for a variety of categories. The film also received a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb, an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 75 on Metacritic. All of these awards and ratings are befitting with Bong Joon-Ho’s style. To stream this award-winning film, you can find it on Netflix.

Snowpiercer

Image from Artforum

Snowpiercer (2013) is another well-known movie by Bong Joon-Ho. After a human-made climate disaster, all of humanity is forced to live on the train called the Snowpiercer. As it circles the planet endlessly, the humans living on this train have to deal with their own classism and revolution. It is the lower class at the end of the train against the elite class near the front in this dark satire.

Snowpiercer is also an award-winning movie. It received 35 wins and 105 nominations in a variety of categories. The film also received a 7.1/10 on IMDb, a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 84 on Metacritic. To stream this socially conscious movie, you can also find it on Netflix.

What’s Next For Director Bong Joon-Ho?

After directing all of these great films, especially Parasite, you might wonder what’s next? Is Bong Joon-Ho going to make more films? Is he taking a break? Well, it was reported in 2020 by IndieWire that even though he was tired, he would continue working on two projects. Right now, it is still unknown what these projects are, but “one is in Korean and one is in English.” The Korean film looks like it will be an action/horror based in Seoul, South Korea, while the English film will be set in the United States and the UK about an historical event. I believe these will be great films to look out for in the next few years!

As for Bong Joon-Ho’s plans in 2021, it looks like he will be the Jury President for the 78th Venice International Film Festival. According to Chron., he will be the first South Korean citizen to hold this post. To keep up with this monumentous event, stay tuned for September 1-11 when the festival takes place!

Other Films by Director Bong Joon-Ho

There are plenty of great films by Bong Joon-Ho. He definitely has a unique style that addresses social and political issues through satire. If you enjoy his work or want to give him a chance, you can try any of the movies listed above. All are great, however, you should also check out his IMDb page listing his work. On this list are movies like The Host and Mother, which are also widely talked about movies. Both of these are dramas with elements of horror or mystery. Try out one of his movies for a thought-provoking movie night!

For more movie recommendations to break out of your routine binge-watching, also check out these award-winning Korean movies.

May 27, 2021
Webtoon Lore Olympus Continues As Highest Trending

In the world of webtoons, it is no surprise that the webtoon Lore Olympus is still considered the highest trending. It now holds 34.2M hearts, a 9.7-star rating, and over 4.8M subscribers on the Webtoon platform. Rachel Smythe is the webtoon’s creator, illustrator, and writer, and she employs a team that assists in making quality work. Its current editor is Annie LeHue, and the current color assistants include Karen P., M. Rawlings, and Joey Ahumada. Click here to also see the past team members.

The Synopsis of the Webtoon Lore Olympus

Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of the Greek myth about Persephone, who is the goddess of spring. Anyone who knows the original tale will know that the story, simply put, is about Hades kidnapping Persephone to make her his wife. Hades makes Persephone queen of the underworld but can only keep her six months out of the year to appease her mother Demeter, who gets to keep her the other six months of the year. For more information on the actual myth, click here.

Lore Olympus itself portrays the myth through a more romantic lens; Persephone and Hades actually fall in love with each other. It starts with Persephone who comes to Olympus to start college through a scholarship program that requires her to remain an eternal maiden (celibate). This is one of the themes in the story as her feelings for Hades grow and she longs for independence.

Photo taken from the @usedbandaid Instagram account, which belongs to to the Lore Olympus creator Rachel Smythe.

There are other love stories and character plots on the side, like the story of Psyche and Eros. However, the main focus is on Persephone. Persephone and Hades first meet at a party after Hades is ditched by his date, Minthe. He sees Persephone across the room and makes a comment about her beauty rivaling Aphrodite’s. Aphrodite overhears him and immediately takes revenge. She has her son Eros drug Persephone and hide her in Hades’ car to embarrass her and Hades both. However, the revenge backfires as Hades finds Persephone, takes care of her, and they make an emotional connection.

The webtoon Lore Olympus also focuses on mature themes like trauma, abuse, and even assault. These themes may be too intense for some interested readers, so take care before reading. This story also features lots of gossip, forbidden love, jealousy, and schemes.

The Main Characters

Persephone: The goddess of spring. She is a petite, pink woman who is naive and the main character that Lore Olympus follows.

Hades: The god of the underworld. He is a large, blue man who is powerful but kind. He is Peresphone’s love interest and the other main character in Lore Olympus.

Artemis: The goddess of the hunt. She is a purple woman who is a strong tomboy. She is Apollo’s sister, Persephone’s friend, and also an eternal maiden.

Zeus: The king of the gods. He is a large, purple man who is powerful but a playboy. He is the brother of Hades and Poseidon and Hera’s husband.

Poseidon: The god of the sea. He is a large, green man who is powerful, but also a bit dense. He is also the brother of Hades and Zeus.

Hera: The goddess of marriage. She is a beautiful, yellow woman who is also powerful and married to Zeus. She handles family issues and helps look after Persephone.

Minthe: A river nymph. She is a red woman who is jealous of Persephone since she was Hades’ lover before he met Persephone.

Aphrodite: The goddess of love and beauty. She is a self-absorbed, light purple woman. She is the mother of Eros and pranks Hades and Persephone at the beginning of the webtoon.

Eros: The god of love. He is a light purple/pink man who is kind and sensitive but also self-absorbed at times. He is the son of Aphrodite, Psyche’s lover, and Persephone’s friend.

Demeter: The goddess of the harvest. She is a green woman with purple hair. She is a helicopter parent to Persephone and pushes her towards eternal maidenhood.

There are many other characters in the webtoon Lore Olympus. Check them out to see their connections to the webtoon story.

What to Know About Lore Olympus

Photo was taken from the @usedbandaid Instagram account belonging to the Lore Olympus creator, Rachel Smythe.

There is much to be said for Lore Olympus and its popularity. One could say it’s so popular because of the themes and issues it addresses, or because it’s a fun retelling of Greek mythology. Mythology and fantasy will never go out of style, especially if the readers can relate to the content. I think the art is also quite unique; it’s not your typical animation style. All of the characters are colorful, and in some scenes, the strokes almost look like watercolor. The art style is so visually appealing that it can definitely keep readers engaged.

Due to its popularity, the webtoon Lore Olympus will also have a television series based on it. In October 2019, the Jim Henson Company apparently announced its collaboration with Webtoon to create this series. It is not known when the television series will come out, but it’s something to look forward to.

For more information about the webtoon Lore Olympus, check out its FAQ site here. As for more updates on webtoons and the like, check out KWorld Now! If you are interested in learning how to make Korean webtoons, check out the video below!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrIdO8-MCAE[/embedyt]

May 12, 2021
The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival: What to Know For 2021

Every spring, South Korea has an event called the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. Millions of people from all over the country and the world travel to witness the beautiful blooms for themselves. A few sites or local areas host their own cherry blossom festivals. But, the one out of Jinhae in the South Gyeongsang Province (a.k.a. the Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival) is the largest.

However, the Coronavirus pandemic really changed many aspects of events. For 2020, the organizers canceled the event and many other local festivals for the safety of the public, and it is, unfortunately, similar for 2021. At the end of the day, it seems to be up to the municipalities of each region. Some local festivals have limited attendance, but even with these changes, many are still traveling to see the cherry blossoms.

The Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival

This festival really started as a memorial service for Naval Admiral Yi Sun-sin. He was most known for his victories in the Imjin War during the Joseon Dynasty and the turtle ship. Eventually, his memorial service turned into the cherry blossom festival. It’s still located around the naval base in this area today and happens around the Military Band and Honour Guard Festival. Due to the dates of both festivals, the military band is able to give performances for the festival-goers as they walk through the cherry blossoms.

The cherry blossom festival lasts up to 10 days with food, music, and other fun things to enjoy. It surely is a sight to see. There are many areas to see the blossoms, but some major areas of interest are Gyeonghwa Station and Yeojwacheon Stream. Apparently, these areas in the region are quite pretty, which makes them the perfect place for great pictures.

Photo by Daniel Bernard on Unsplash.

Some treats to try that are only available during the festival are cherry blossom ice cream and cherry blossom treats. Many vendors sell these food items, so when the area opens back up again for the next festival these treats should be a must-have.

As for the actual date of the festival, it is said to usually happen in early April. Though, if you just want to see the blooms they are usually ready before the festival. In 2011 and the year after, the cherry blossoms bloomed in early April. Now, the cherry blossoms bloom 15 days faster in 3-5 days compared to a decade before. Apparently, the cherry blossoms bloomed in mid-March since 2013 due to a warmer climate. When it is safe to travel again, you can go by train or bus while in the country.

What’s the Big Deal?

There are many cherry blossom festivals across Asia, not just in South Korea. For instance, Japan has many known cherry blossom festivals (hanami) and cherry blossom trees to visit. It’s also an important custom for them where they can view the blooms or even have picnics with friends and family. In Japan, there are cherry blossom trees (sakura) that bloom at different times across the country, so local festivals depend more on the timing of the blooms.

I would say that what makes South Korea’s Jinhae Gunhangje Festival unique is the origin and meaning. It is said that in Japan, hanami began more than 1,000 years ago. Apparently, aristocrats would view and enjoy the blossoms and write poems about them, which began the tradition. The picnics in Japan would then turn into fun festivities in the evening since sake is usually a part of the day.

However, the meaning of sakura is a bit deeper than picnics. It is said that since sakura blooms last only two weeks, they symbolize the idea that nothing lasts forever. In Japanese, this means “mono no aware.” This is apparently the reason why sakura are depicted in a lot of art.

Photo by Timothy Ries on Unsplash.

I think the point is that each country has its own unique history and culture. Even though a country has a similar springtime festival to another, it could express a very different experience. For example, the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival has a lot of rich history to learn about, especially if you are not from there. When things open after the pandemic, festivals like this will be a great way to experience authentic Korean food, culture, and to get awesome pictures and memories.

What to Expect for Future Festivals

It seems to be a given that this year is very different from the past years in regard to events. Hopefully, the future will be better with open festivals and events. With the duration of the pandemic, it may be safe to say that most of 2021 will stay the same. Meaning, there may be more online, limited, or canceled events. Though, I do think that the next few years will look more optimistic.

For more info on festivals and events in South Korea, stay in the know with KWorld Now. We will keep with weekly news and more on Korean culture. If you live in Seoul, here is a short video on the cherry blossom festival in Yeouido as well. Hope you enjoy it!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHiIWOpXNE[/embedyt]

April 16, 2021
Jeonju International Film Festival 2021: What to Expect

For all the movie lovers out there, keep your eyes open for the upcoming Jeonju International Film Festival (IFF). Every year, Jeonju IFF displays new films for their competition by filmmakers around the world. And luckily, this year the festival will be able to go on with in-person viewings in the Jeonju area. The themed slogan this year “Film Goes On,” aptly captures the sentiment since the start of the pandemic.

What to Expect at the Festival

Jeonju IFF apparently went through hundreds of film submissions. The organizers finally narrowed the selection to 10 films for the international competition section.

Here is a short video if you want to learn more.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCtgD_t2lQ[/embedyt]

April 11, 2021
Esports Tournaments and Events in South Korea 2021
Esports tournaments and events in South Korea have become quite popular within the past few years. In 2019, the esports industry even became a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. With games like League of Legends (LoL), Overwatch, and Starcraft, gaming is at a whole new level. If you want to learn more about the industry in general, click here before scrolling down.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkdD46S8V0[/embedyt]

As for tournaments and events, since esports are so popular, the South Korean government created the Korea Esports Association (KeSPA) to handle anything esports-related. KeSPA even built the first-ever stadium for esports in Yongsan in 2005. Now, the building of esports stadiums around the world for tournaments and events is more common.

In addition, there was the creation of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) alongside another international federation for esports gaming and events. AESF and the International Esports Federation (IESF) organize events and tournaments for esports each year. And since esports can all be done online, tournaments and events are still happening in 2021.

Esports Tournaments and Events

The international events can be seen on the IESF calendar. It consists of events that are broken into five sections: World Super League (WSL), Global R&D Programs, Regional Events, Global Esports Executive Summit (GEES21), and the EILAT 2021 13th Esports World Championship.

Here is the list of events to check out:
- WSL
  - Game Titles Announcement: March 15, 2021
  - Global Finals Announcement: April 2021
  - National Games (Online/Offline): June 16 – September 15, 2021
  - Regionals Games (Online/Offline): October – December 2021
  - Global Finals: December 2021
- R&D Programs
  - Esports Academic Archive Launch: May 2021
  - IESF Global Referee Academy Launch: June 2021
  - International Esports Referee Summit: August 29 – September 1, 2021
  - Training Program Launch: October 2021
- Regional Events
  - Open Asian Esports Games (Season 1): May 2021
  - Open Asian Esports Games (Season 2): October 2021
- GEES21
  - Official Announcement: June 15, 2021
  - Global Esports Executive Summit: August 29 – September 1, 2021
- EILAT
  - Bid Book for 2022 WC: February 2021
  - Game Titles Announcements: March 1-15, 2021
  - First Entry Registration: June 30, 2021
  - National Qualifiers Period: June – September 2021
  - Second Entry Registration: August 31, 2021
  - Global Regional Games: September – November 2021
  - Global Finals: November 2021
Some of the event dates may change, so stay up-to-date on the IESF social media outlets for changes and details.

The AESF website also mentions past events, but their news and media section is more up-to-date with esports news. To find out more, click here.

As for KeSPA events, the LoL KeSPA Cup 2020 just ended in January (Dec. 21, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2021). Check out this website for more details on past and future KeSPA Cups. KeSPA also joined the Korean Wave initiative with the CAST project to expand on Korean and esports culture. For more details about this project, also click here.

How to Watch or Participate in Esports Tournaments and Events

Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash.

If you enjoy esports and events, you can definitely get involved. Many attend tournaments and events through live streaming or in-person events (when there is not a pandemic). Some social platforms to stream from are Twitch, Mixer, or even YouTube Gaming. You can view many matches through these platforms on a regular basis. However, not all of the matches will be high-profile. There will definitely be more events to watch on these platforms, so stay up-to-date on these platforms to see more matches. For example, the LCK_Korea account on Twitch just recently finished an 11-day LCK Spring CL for LoL.

Another way to watch esports is by TV! In the United States, it may seem different for those who don’t know much about gaming (but it’s still doable). However, watching tournaments live on TV is quite common in Asia. And if you want to learn more about streaming esports, check out this article.

As for participating in esports as a player, it’s not so bad if you are just looking to play for fun. You should find a genre of games that you enjoy and that you can improve on. And from there it’s a matter of finding the right platform to play on while interacting with others. You can find a great community of players through these interactions. And you can play with them regularly and make an online presence for yourself.

If you are looking to play seriously, then you need to do those first steps but go further. In order to join a tournament, you should join a team. And in order to join a team, you need to have great skills, an online presence, and maybe even sponsors.

Rules and Regulations

Every organization or company has its own set of rules to follow. And it’s no different in the gaming world. However, to make it simple, I will only discuss the competition rules for IESF since it’s international.

There are many rules, regulations, and statutes to keep in mind. So, I will be doing a brief overview of a few basic pieces. For the full set of rules and regulations, click here.

For Participants:
- All participants must have good behavior during competitions. This applies to participants, referees, officials, spectators, and others involved. Everyone must be respectful and have good sportsmanship.
- Participants can’t be sponsored by anyone involved with adult themes, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or gambling.
- No forms of cheating are allowed. Anyone who is caught cheating will be disqualified and banned from participating in tournaments for at least six months.
- Participants are not allowed to bet on match outcomes directly or indirectly. Anyone caught betting will be disqualified and reported to the local law.
- Participants are not allowed to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs (prescription or otherwise), or doping substances while taking part in the tournament.
  - There is a set of statutes about doping and other situations here.
There are many more rules and factors that you should be aware of, but you can find them in the link above. The IESF also talks about penalties and scoring, different game matches, and the responsibilities of all parties involved.

Esports Industry

Photo by Emmanuel on Unsplash.

As you can see, there is a lot to grasp from esports tournaments and events. There are many moving elements to think about when joining the sport. But it’s always good to start with streaming. You can acquaint yourself with events and games by streaming skilled teams and players. Along the way, you could even learn about the many rules in-depth and start playing with other great players. Whether you start playing for fun, or for tournaments, gaming can be for everyone.

If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog! For more information and updates about Korean culture or gaming, check out KWorld Now.
April 2, 2021