[28th BIFF] Steven Yeun, John Cho reflect on rising global Influence of K-content – Beragampengetahuan

From left, actor John Cho, director Justin Chon, actor Steven Yeun, and director Lee Isaac Chung pose during a press conference for the special screening program, “Korean Diasporic Cinema,” at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held at the KNN Tower Building, Friday. Courtesy of BIFF

By Lee Gyu-lee

BUSAN― Korean American actors Steven Yeun and John Cho shared their personal notes on the increasing spotlight Korean content has been getting from global audiences recently during the 28th Busan Film Festival (BIFF).

“This wave of Korean content that’s been going out there, the thing that’s really exciting is that it’s, it’s deeply healing for the diaspora to watch,” Yeun said during a press conference for Asia’s largest film festival, at the KNN Tower Building, Friday.

Yeun celebrated the diversity offered by the Korean cultural wave, particularly forAsian representation, adding he hopes to do the same with his works.

“Even watching shows like ‘Physical 100’ on Netflix … images of people like us in different places that look new or what used to be just considered western are just how we’re redefining the imagery of our own selves to ourselves. Watching it from the motherland is really exciting,” he said. “And I hope the art that we’re putting out too does the same for Korea that it feels deeply healing, deeply connected and that your humanity can be represented everywhere.”

Cho echoed Yeun, noting the inclusive nature of the phenomenon. “Korean cinema and culture in general, from a Korean American vantage point, feels like a rising tide that fits all boats. And one small vessel on that water has Korean Americans,” Cho said.

This year’s BIFF, running through Oct. 13, hosts a special program, “Korean Diasporic Cinema,” to highlight Korean American narratives in Hollywood, screening six films, including Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari,” starring Yeon; Justin Chon’s “Jamojaya;” and Aneesh Chaganty’s “Searching,” starring Cho.

A scene from director Lee Isaac Chung’s film “Minari” / Courtesy of BIFF

Cho expressed gratitude towards the festival’s effort to recognize the Korean diasporas abroad, saying it feels especially meaningful to see Koreans connecting with Korean immigrants’ narratives.

“I was just really honored individually but in a collective sense that the program was happening at all,” the actor said, sharing the personal anecdote of his book “Troublemaker” being translated and published in Korea.

“That was really special for me because I spent my youth wondering and ruminating about what would my life have been like, had I not immigrated to America. I wondered about this life overseas. So this felt like validation the other way, for the book to be translated into Korean. Because it seemed to be a message that ‘We were also wondering about you over there in America.’ And this panel is an example of that. I just feel really appreciated as a Korean American that you guys would be curious about our work and our lives. So it’s a great compliment to me.”

Stories of immigrants have been emerging in the global market, especially in Hollywood, not only of Koreans but also other nationalities. Directors Chung and Chon said such stories are gaining more popularity as they can resonate differently depending on the person’s own experience.

“I wonder if we’re all living more in that reality of being an immigrant, of not having a place, of being in transition from one place to another and to not feeling rooted someplace … People of all different walks of life come and want to talk to us about ‘Minari’ and talked about their own experiences. They’ve never immigrated anywhere but they still feel (the connection),” Chung said.

“Life is a journey. So it’s really a wonderful way to present a story, the idea of people in transition on a journey somewhere.”

A scene from director Justin Chon’s film “Jamojaya” / Courtesy of BIFF

Director Chon added he personally feels a sense of comfort in such immigrant stories in entertainment. “The main thing it’s done at least for myself is to know that as I tell my own stories, people are finding common ground to relate with one another,” he said.

“And when I watch other people’s stories, it’s the same where I just feel not alone. I feel like I’m a part of what America is supposed to be: a melting pot.”

As one of the few Korean Americans in cutthroat Hollywood, Chung related to the spirit of Koreans through his journey in the industry.

“All of us work very hard without too many models. When you’re working (in the film industry) in the U.S. as a Korean American, none of our parents did this … So all of us had to figure out our own path and our own way of making films and were driven by a passion inside,” he said.

“And I think there’s a lot of commonality with Koreans, here. A lot of the cinema, here, is so uniquely Korean. It’s a cinema that’s born out of ‘let’s figure it out ourselves … there’s a deep Korean spirit that runs through generations that connects and unites all of us in the way that we approach work and the things that we aspire to do.”