Parasite Team Invited to Blue House Luncheon... First Lady Kim Jung-sook Prepares 'Jjapaguri'
President Moon Jae-in is giving a luncheon speech on the 20th at the Blue House, inviting the production team and actors of the movie 'Parasite'. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] On the 20th, President Moon Jae-in invited the director and actors of the film Parasite, which won four Academy Awards in the United States, to the Blue House and said, "I pay tribute to Director Bong Joon-ho and the production company for taking the lead in ensuring that standard working hours (standard labor contracts) and the 52-hour workweek are observed on film production sites."
At a luncheon held at the Blue House main building with about 20 members of the Parasite production and cast, President Moon said, "The government will strive to institutionalize this not just out of goodwill but to ensure that the welfare of those working in the film industry is fully guaranteed even during periods without work." The luncheon was arranged to express gratitude and encouragement to the film personnel who brought national pride amid difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Moon said, "I deeply sympathize with the social consciousness shown in Parasite," adding, "Inequality has become so entrenched that it feels like a new class." He continued, "Resolving such inequality is our highest national policy goal, but there is much opposition, and results do not appear quickly, which is very frustrating."
He also expressed gratitude, saying, "Parasite has become a great source of pride and courage for our people who are struggling due to the COVID-19 situation. I am especially thankful for that."
In addition to the officially prepared menu at the luncheon, First Lady Kim Jung-sook provided the film's food 'Jjapaguri.' President Moon personally introduced it, saying, "This is Jjapaguri dedicated to you by my wife."
Director Bong responded, "After a long journey from last year's Cannes Film Festival through releases in various countries to the Academy Awards, I am happy and grateful to be able to conclude this journey here at the Blue House with the President and First Lady."
First Lady Kim Jung-sook is wearing the 'eye mask' that became a hot topic, gifted by the production team of the movie 'Parasite,' at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
At the luncheon, 12 production staff including Director Bong, Kwak Shin-hye, CEO of Barunson E&A, producer Jang Young-hwan, and screenwriter Han Jin-won, who won the Best Screenplay award, as well as 10 main cast members including Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin, Park So-dam, Choi Woo-shik, Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun, and Park Myung-hoon attended. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo was also present.
Before the luncheon, a private conversation was held with Yook Sung-chul, an administrative officer at the Blue House Social Coordination Secretariat and a university classmate of Director Bong. Yook and Bong have a close relationship from their university days, and Yook had helped Bong in the past, so he was specially invited to the conversation. During the conversation, Director Bong told reporters, "When I got married and was working as an assistant director in Chungmuro, he even brought me a sack of rice," introducing their special bond. It is said that Director Bong personally filmed a video at Yook's wedding.
Representing the attendees at the conversation, actor Song Kang-ho presented President Moon and the First Lady with the Parasite screenplay and storyboard book. This creative work contains Director Bong's meticulous screenplay work, earning him the nickname 'Bongtail (Bong Joon-ho + detail)' and became a major topic on social networking services (SNS).
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