Chapman students find their dynamite in the Korean film industry

           Hollywood creates competition within its own industry; however, many film industries themselves are trying to catch up to Hollywood. While having Hollywood in their back pocket, a group of Chapman students explored Seoul and Busan in South Korea during Chapman’s 2024 Interterm to learn more about the Korean film industry. With the travel course spanning less than two weeks, students were given opportunities to meet industry professionals, as well as explore famous production studios.

​

​

The Hallyu (한류) “Korean Wave”

​

        Doctor Nam Lee, an associate professor of film and media studies at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, created the travel course not only to give students a chance to learn more about a foreign industry, but also to take the chance to surround themselves in a new culture. She chose Korea because of the increasing popularity of Korean culture, in addition to her connections.

​

           “Since I have been teaching Korean cinema, the size of my class has been growing every year. And through Netflix, other streaming services, and of course, K-pop (Korean pop music), I think there is a growing interest in younger generations, in their twenties especially, in Korean, so to speak, 'content,'” Lee said.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

          According to an article by Korea.net, the Hallyu, or Korean wave, started in the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, spearheaded by Korean films and K-pop, in other Asian countries. The article notes that organizations related to Hallyu-enthusiasts increase every year by an average of 7%, with members increasing by 36%. Some of the organizations include ARMYs, boy band BTS's fangroup, and BLINKS, BLACKPINK's fangroup.

​

           But the main reason why Lee chose Korea comes down to her desire to spread her own culture as well. She notes that while students can learn about Korean society through films, it doesn't match the opportunity to immerse themselves.

​

           "I think going to Korea and where the films have been produced and where other cultures and how people live, because that's where most of the films are made, I think understanding the culture and the people on a more broader context, but not only through the screen, is important." Lee said.

​

​

Education Through a Lens

​

           The group visited many well-known companies and sites in Korea, such as CJ Entertainment and the Parasite film locations, to gain a deeper understanding of Korea's advancing film history. Despite not receiving a typical Korean education while abroad, students were still able to gain unique and valuable experiences to further their education gained at Chapman. Thi Chu, a junior public relations, advertising and entertainment marketing major, gained a deeper understanding of a film industry she has come to admire through her participation in the travel course.

​

           "Despite the escalating production scale, the Korean film industry is actually a close-knit community that embraces many national values, history and culture, which is reflected not only in the stories they tell, but also in the filmmakers and their passion for making progress for the developing industry," Chu said. "They are not hesitant to adapt and innovate new techniques, as well as to collaborate internationally."

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

           Hallyu is also contributing to the increasing interest in Korean films, with Bong Joon-ho's Parasite and Celine Song's Past Lives leading the charge in the Academy Awards. According to the International Trade Administration, the Korean film industry is starting its rise again after being heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic. In 2022, the total market size for the Korean film market was 1,322, a 47.78% increase since the previous year.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Experiencing the Culture Through the People

​

           The journey across the Pacific Ocean brought more than just excitement about the unknown; it also exposed students to the people in a different culture. The Korea Herald reported from the Ministry of Education that 182,000 international students chose to study abroad in Korea in 2023. While many students are given opportunities to learn their craft in a different country, it is the immersive experience that is unforgettable. Chu, as an interested filmmaker herself, experienced this during the travel course.

​

           "Visiting the Korean cinema industry and talking to the filmmakers there was like learning from the future for me as someone who's coming from a country where the film industry is still very behind," Chu said. "I'm specifically fond of how every story is unique yet still embraces significant Korean values, which inspires me to find a way to tell stories that are close to my own culture as well."

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

           And Chu plans on using the lessons she's learned from her time in Korea to better her overall work ethic back home. She encourages her peers to take the time to study international film, especially as someone from Vietnam, and appreciate and learn from its differences from Hollywood.

​

           "I cannot emphasize enough how important and fascinating it is to experience and learn about international film cultures other than Hollywood - the world doesn't end at the border of subtitles." Chu said.

​

​

Sources: 

https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Culture-and-the-Arts/Hallyu

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/south-korea-entertainment-and-media

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240207000657

​

​

Reported and produced by Ingrid Lee