Kyung Hee University's Dr Jay Sohn explores misogyny and racism in Korean cinema in Kritika Kultura lecture

Kritika Kultura, the international peer-reviewed journal of Ateneo's Literary and Cultural Studies Program, hosted a lecture exploring the undercurrents of misogyny and racism in Korean cinema on 7 October 2024. The lecture, titled "From Global Ambition to Ethical Quandaries: Navigating Misogyny and Racism in Korea's Cinematic Rise," was delivered by visiting professor Dr Jay Sohn of South Korea's Kyung Hee University.

Dr Sohn is an actively engaged film critic and feminist based in South Korea and the author of "Feminism Reboot," "I Saw the Universe You Created," "Gender Equality," and "If Only We Could Envision a Better Ends on This Damaged Planet," among others. She holds a PhD in cine-feminism with the thesis "The 21st Century Korean Cinema and Nation."

During the packed lecture, held at the NGF Conference Room at Dela Costa Hall, Dr Sohn talked about the rise of Korean Cinema in the 21st century, highlighting how it reflects and perpetuates a form of "K-nationalism" that's built around misogyny and racial hierarchies, especially against the joseonjok – ethnic Koreans from China or with Chinese citizenship.

She also brought up South Korea's problematic self-identification with advanced nations. Here, she pointed out how Korean films, like "The Moon," "Ransomed," and especially "The Roundup" series with Ma Dong-seok often echo imperialist and patriarchal ideologies while glorifying K-nationalism. They do this through male-centric narratives, sidelining women, minorities, and the Global South.

One specific example she brought up was that of the 2017 film "Midnight Runners," which caused controversy over its portrayal of minorities. The film eventually became the first to ever receive an apology verdict in court for the ethics of minority representation.

Dr Sohn also discussed how the exclusion of women and minorities in Korean cinema aligns with broader societal trends. The latter include the rise of neoliberalism and the anti-feminist backlash following the IMF crisis in South Korea (part of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis).

However, Dr Sohn also pointed out feminist movements like the 2015 Feminism Reboot have begun to challenge these norms. This has led to a slow shift in Korean cinema, with films such as "Citizen of a Kind" showing more diverse representations. This film featured veteran South Korean actress Ra Mi-ran as its lead, symbolizing a new direction, pushing against the traditional male-dominated narratives and reflecting the influence of feminist discourse.

The lecture was followed by a short open-forum where Ateneo students and teachers alike engaged in lively discussion with Dr Sohn. Here, she admitted that she may not have all the answers to the student's question, but at the same time, it was still important to raise these issue so that they may become aware of them as consumers of these films.