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Why South Koreans showing less interest in Oscar-nominated Minari
- The film about a hard-luck immigrant farming family in rural Arkansas in the 1980s highlighted the heyday of immigration from South Korea to the US
- But for younger Koreans, the tale presented a far too dated view of immigration to America
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The heartfelt Korean immigrant tale in Minari resonated with many Asian-Americans, but for some in South Korea the film presented a far too dated view of immigration to the United States.
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Minari, directed by a Korean-American and produced in the US, was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, best director and best supporting actress for Youn Yuh-jung, a historic first for a Korean actor.
Released in the midst of the pandemic, the film’s Korean elements and its Oscar nominations helped make it a commercial success in South Korea, where the film brought in US$7 million of its total US$11 million global box office receipts, compared with US$2 million from showings in the United States, according to IMDb.
In Minari, the tale of a hard-luck immigrant farming family in rural Arkansas in the 1980s highlighted the heyday of immigration from South Korea to the US. Today, however, it’s a tale that is increasingly foreign to many South Koreans, especially younger people.
“It is true that people are less interested in Minari because of its topic, as these days it’s mostly rich people who immigrate to America,” said a 35-year-old teacher who only gave her surname, Jeong.
About 350,000 Koreans were estimated to have immigrated to the US in the 1980s after the liberalisation of overseas travel and studies.
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