the Lives of Korean Women and Men
Recently, the movie “Kim Ji Young: Born 1982”, based on the most famous Korean feminism novel was released. The title of the movie is the same as the original novel, and many scenes in the movie were adapted from the original story. However, there are some differences between the movie and the book in terms of the character’s personality and the way of narrative. Generally, the movie dramatically describes the reality of discrimination Korean women encounter in our society and implements some drawbacks which the original novel had. However, it draws criticism from the spectators that some scenes were out of context as the directors were trying to portray discrimination as a social phenomenon.
The movie progresses by alternating the past and present life of Kim Ji Young. In the first scene, Kim cooks a holiday meal all day long with her mother-in-law. Her husband, Jung Dae Hyun, suggests to his mother to eat out from the next holiday. However, his mother insists, saying that she is not tired of cooking. Consequently, Kim could not meet her own family using the holiday. She had to cook against her will, because of the traditional duties as a daughter-in-law, which forced her to work on the national holiday. This scene directly illustrates a typical Korean women’s way of life, managing tasks of housework while men neglects, or work as if they were doing something very courteous. What the men in the movie does not realise is that they had the same mandatory responsibilities of doing the work, as much as their wives.
While Kim is strolling along the park with her baby, she saw a woman who was on commute. This intrigue recalls of her past; of when she was working at the advertisement company. She was quite good at her job, but she was excluded from the company’s long-term project, only because she was a woman. Her company concluded that women were not appropriate for long-term projects, since thematernity leave was bound to leave complications on the company. Eventually, Kim had to give up her career after giving birth. This situation depicts the notion of the ‘glass ceiling’. A glass ceiling is a social phenomenon which a person who is capable of performing a task is discriminated from an opportunity regarding one’s gender or race. In the movie, most of the female employees have excellent performances, yet, they got unreasonably different payments compared to the counter gender employees.
Majority of women in double-incomed South Korean families are quitting their jobs after their maternity leave. Managing both child-care and their lives are infeasible, and with the additional social discrimination, it implements more pressure to leave. In one scene in the movie, housewives who used to be highly educated elites in their field, talk about how they had to cease their careers because they could not simultaneously manage their life with childcare. Even though these women fiercely studied and developed themselves, they were confronted with the discriminatory reality. Nevertheless, the high education did not stop them from becoming typical, submissive Korean housewives. A Women’s career breakdown from maternity leave is a serious problem in Korea. However, it is not only the women’s problem to get held down from their career. Men are also affected in a certain manner. Jung Dae Hyun, the husband of Kim, wanted to use the paternity leave. However, he had to hesitate, as one of his colleagues were advised to leave from the company after using it. In Korea, the irony of this distorted social phenomenon is severe.
‘Kim Ji Young: Born 1982’, compared to the original novel, expresses men’s compassion over women’s discrimination. In the novel, ‘Jung Dae Hyun’, Kim’s husband barely shows up. He is depicted as a loving man, however, fails to sincerely understand his wife. Yet, in the movie, Kim’s husband is truly devoted to helping his wife. There are times when he is clumsy or angry, however, his actions are based on love. Showing up at the hospital after requesting a paternity leave with difficulties illustrates his consideration towards Kim. Kim’s brother, Kim Ji Soek, is portrayed as the most benefited from the Korean androcentric culture. Since he is a man, all the attention is focused on him. Same goes to the novel, however, in the movie Kim’s brother gradually overgoes mental growth, enough to understand his sister.
Kim’s mother emotionally breaks down from Kim’s father’s discriminative manner when he only gave Ji Soek an invigorant (an expensive Korean medicine used for restoring energy). From this incident, Ji Soek realizes that all his benefits had deprived from his sister’s sacrifices. Ji Seok gives kim an expensive fountain pen with her name carved on it. This gift is Ji Soek’s understanding of his sisters, and the discrimination women has to face in this society. This is a crucial scene since it overcomes the novel’s limit of narrating women as the victim and men as the perpetrator. However, there were still scenes that were unlikely to happen. The most memorable one was when Kim’s father scolded his daughter because she was stalked. He believed she was stalked because of her clothing and attitude, however, a person with a reasonable mind would not think in this manner. I understood the director needed to drive attention on sexual discrimination, however, it was personally unconceivable.
The movie Kim Ji Young: Born 1982 illustrates daily problems by focusing on women’s sexual discrimination. It is not difficult to see the situations Kim undergoes in real life, which mentally burdens her. Gender discrimination is a serious problem in Korea. However, in the movie, Kim is more optimistic and tries to actively solve her problems. While the novel constantly describes Kim as the victim, Kim in the movie is struggling to construct her life in the atmosphere of discrimination. In my opinion, this was the movie’s advantage and difference. I truly hope that many people would watch this movie and understand the hardships Korean women has to undergo.
[Reference]
“Glass ceiling.” Wikipedia. Accessed October 19, 2019,