Shock ‘Parasite’ Oscar Showcases Korea’s Soft Power

  • Fledgling film industry from the land of K-Pop comes of age
  • Shares of ‘Parasite’ producer and investor surge after award

Parasite

Source: CJ Entertainment

South Korea’s status as a cultural juggernaut just got a serious shot of international credibility.

“Parasite,” a dark comedy about the divisions of wealth and class, became the first foreign-language film in history to win the coveted Oscar for best picture. The movie -- made for $11 million by Seoul-based Barunson Entertainment & Arts Corp. -- beat out Hollywood competitors made for nine times as much.