Bong Joon-ho And Parasite Just Took Home South Korea's First Oscar

Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won just made Oscar history. The Parasite screenwriters took residence South Korea's first-ever Academy Award on Sunday night (February 9), kicking off what would be a magical night for the BongHive.


The Korean writer-director took to the podium in a state of shock. Fantastic honor," he mentioned in English, before delivering the rest of his speech in his native Korean. "Writing a script is routinely such a lonely process. We never write to symbolize our countries," he mentioned by means of the his translator, Sharon Choi. He paused and then added in English: nevertheless this is very first Oscar to South Korea."


Before ceding the mic to Han, he thanked his partner "for habitually being an inspiration" and his Parasite cast — several of whom joined him at the 2020 Oscars — "for bringing this film to life."


Han shared the Oscar with his fellow Korean writers and filmmakers, specifically referencing the Chungmuro area of Seoul which is residence to the South Korean film industry. "I'd like to share this honor with all the storytellers and filmmakers of Chungmuro," he mentioned by way of the an interpreter.


Bong and Han's win marks the initial time a foreign-language film has won the original screenplay Oscar since Pedro Almodovar was honored for Talk to Her in 2003. And it's Parasite's first major win at this year's Academy Awards telecast; the social thriller is also nominated for Best Picture, and Bong is nominated for Best Director.