When “Parasite” won best picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, it cemented the film’s position in history – as well as South Korea’s growing cultural influence in the United States.
The South Korean film from director Bong Joon Ho has smashed box office records and won awards internationally. Now the movie – a genre-warping mix of drama, horror and dark comedy – has become the first foreign language film to win the coveted best picture at the Oscars.
The movie also won Oscars for best director, best screenplay and best international feature.
The victory was met with euphoria on social media from South Koreans as well as Asian Americans, who celebrated the win as uplifting the entire wider Asian community on an international stage.
“South Korea did it,” tweeted Chinese American filmmaker Jon Chu. “History made.”
Wonsuk Chin, a South Korean film director and friend of Bong’s, said the win felt “surreal.”