Introduction
Korea is the geographical name of the region located on the Korean Peninsula and adjacent islands. Since the 7th century, Korea has developed as a single state. However, a series of events in the middle of the 20th century divided the country into two territories – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. This caused people to perceive one another as ‘the other side,’ as seen in several South Korean movies. Even though people from one region are supposed to support each other, the concept of ‘othering’, affected by ideology, separates them.
Representations of “Othering” in South Korean Cinema
A Taxi Driver
The first film that underlines the concept of ‘the other’ is A Taxi Driver, released in 2017. Kim Man Sob, a taxi driver from Seoul, hopes to earn extra money from a foreign passenger, not suspecting he is going into the center of bloody riots. He does not have enough money to rent or provide decent clothes for his little daughter. Therefore, he recklessly intercepts someone else’s client at the airport—a generous foreigner ready to pay a round sum for a trip to Gwangju.
They go to the town where the riots take place. One of the officers tries to arrest the journalist for filming the uprisings and then finds out the driver is a communist. Since the country was fighting for democracy, he considered the driver’s views outdated based on his perception of the form of government. This makes one contemplate political perspectives and how they force individuals to confront each other. Having different outlooks on politics is the ground for major interlocal conflicts.
Chilsu and Mansu
The other film featuring the selected concept is Chilsu and Mansu. Although the film did not become a hit, it is remembered as an essential step toward freedom of expression in South Korean cinema. 1988 was the year of the Olympic Games in Seoul and a period of significant political and social amendments. Chilsu was a young painter striving to move to America, a highly democratic country. At the same time, his neighbor Mansu is an idler who drinks away his problems and ties with his communist family.
The concept of othering is represented by Chilsu’s revolt against the undemocratic regime of Korea, since he is a young and talented artist aspiring to get a decent education abroad. Mansu has a conflict with ‘the others’ – his family members, whose point of view he does not desire to accept. As a result of inner struggle, the characters have to confront the regime, either familial or societal. Such conflicts make them insecure about their future and the possibility of living peacefully in harsh conditions.
Joint Security Area
Finally, Joint Security Area is a story about the friendship of two border guards of South and North Korea who, without informing their superiors, secretly meet in the night sky. They have a fun and relaxed time, and their lives are filled with momentary joys. The film also narrates the death of two Korean soldiers shot by Southerners, and whose death is being investigated by a special international commission.
There are three witnesses to this incident, but they categorically refuse to comment on what happened because the authorities may not like the truth about human friendship. The problem of splitting the country is acute, giving the film piquancy. The plot’s essence and main idea are as follows: ‘we vs. the others is the most important confrontation in human life, even if this ‘the other’ is precisely an intimate friend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of ‘other’ can be present in any person’s life due to biases and social perceptions. Korea was once divided into the Southern and Northern parts, separating people and affecting their ideology. South against North, communists against Democrats, friends against each other—the concept of ‘othering’ appeared based on the division. Two seemingly close people may become rivals affected by political, religious, or other views.