The hype... KOREAN WAVES
PROPELLED BY PARASITE’S AWARD WINS, SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE CONTINUES TO CAPTIVATE. GET YOUR NEXT FIX HERE
The cinematic phenomenon that was Parasite might have been a breakthrough moment for Korean culture, but it was anything but a one-off. Next up is If I Had Your Face, the hyped book by Frances Cha, a former reporter for CNN in Seoul. Her debut novel (out now) is told through the voices of four women in contemporary Seoul, as they navigate the issues thrown up by urban life – not least the exacting beauty standards. ‘Koreans are very blunt,’ says Cha. ‘There is a saying about how makeup is courtesy to others. Essentially, it is considered polite and a gesture of respect to put effort into your appearance.’
Meanwhile, visual arts fans should check out fantastical work by JeeYoung Lee and illustrator Piru. In fashion, South Korean designer Rejina Pyo’s reign continues with gathered dresses and power necklines for SS2O, and the winner of Netflix’s Next In Fashion, Minju Kim, is stocked at Net-A-Porter.
The global popularity of South Korean music (K-Pop) continues to grow, so look out for Blackpink’s new album. Their fans can’t wait: hardcore ‘Blinks’ even hired a billboard in Seoul, demanding new releases. And to satisfy your post-Parasite hunger, streaming service MUBI added films by director
Park Chan-Wook: Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. Finally, in September, journalist Helena Lee will launch literary salon East Side Voices at London’s The Standard Hotel, bringing together East and Southeast Asian creatives – promising a Korean culture fix on the home front.