[Korean Movie] "The Host" (2006) and the MERS virus in S. Korea (2015)

오후 12:53 snowflake 1 Comments


This is a movie poster of the Korean film, "The Host (2006)" by one of my favorite movie directors, Bong Joon-ho. He is well-known to the Western viewers because of his recent film "Snowpiercer (2013)," in which famous international movie stars such as Chris Evans, Ed Harris, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Jamie Bell and others acted. However, in Korea, his old films such as "The Host (2006)," "Mother (2009)" and "Memories of Murder (2003)" are much more loved because they grasp the essence of the unique culture of the modern Korean society and show it well in the utterly bittersweet yet comical, sarcastic but warm ways. 
(Official trailer of "the Host")

The Host is a sort of monster movie but not a typical monster movie. One day in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, a huge monster suddenly appears in the Han River. This monster causes chaos and kills people. People in Seoul are frightened by the monster but the incapable government and police can't solve the situation. Rather, they even create more fear to the citizens. During a mass funeral for the victims of the monster, government representatives and the American military arrive and forcefully quarantine all those who have been in direct contact with the monster. The Korean government announces that the monster is the host of a deadly, unknown virus, therefore they should quarantine the affected citizens. During this process, the citizens are mistreated like a virus itself and accused as the potential threat to others' health. 

(Plot found in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_(2006_film) 

Sadly, it's not just a plot of the old movie. It is happening now in South Korea. 

(Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mers-virus-outbreak-who-south-korean-experts-call-for-schools-to-be-reopened-1.3107300)

 Now, the biggest concern of everybody in South Korea is the outbreak of the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus. The MERS is a type of corona-virus which causes respiratory infections and camels are suspected to be the primary source of infections for humans (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32919416). There is no known cure or vaccine for this virus. The most scary thing is that, in Saudi Arabia, the mortality rate from the MERS is 41% according to the last year's data. The outbreak of the MERS in South Korea is a big issue in the world since it is the first time MERS has caused a big outbreak outside of Saudi Arabia. 

 In May, a 68-year-old businessman who had been traveling throughout the Middle East returned to Seoul and developed the MERS symptoms. He visited several hospitals several times but no one suspected that he might have the MERS, except for one doctor who had read an journal article about the MERS. So, the doctor and the patient's family asked for the MERS testing several times to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) but the KCDC refused their request because there had been no previous case of the MERS in the country. As a result, the initial patient had not been diagnosed for weeks and he was diagnosed with the virus only on May 20th. He was the superspreader and as of June 19th, 2015, 24 were dead, 166 are diagnosed, 5,930 are quarantined because of the MERS in South Korea. The current situation started with only one person, but became severe due to the surprisingly unorganized system and irresponsible people in the government and hospitals.
(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/06/world/asia/south-korea-mers-virus-st-marys-hospital.html)

 Many people say that the current situation is remarkably similar with the situation in the movie,'The Host.' It is very sad and heartbreaking that, although time has passed, not many things are changed in the Korean society. Rather, I can say that it became worse in many aspects.

 BTW, do you know how the monster was created in the movie? It's created by the incident that the US military camp in Seoul dumped over 200 bottles of toxic chemicals down a drain leading into the Han River. It is based on a real story. In 2000, US military camp in Yongsan dumped over 20 boxes of formaldehyde down a drain leading into the Han river, but no one was punished. 
(Source: http://jurgenfauth.com/2006/10/05/the-host/)

 While the whole nation is concerned about the MERS virus, one shocking incident is forgotten. Recently, a U.S. military laboratory in Utah sent samples of live anthrax spores to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, just south of Seoul, as well as military and commercial laboratories in nine U.S. states by accident. The deadly biological agent was supposed to be killed before being distributed for research. In the U.S. military base in South Korea, some 22 civilian and military personnel “may have been exposed (to the bacteria). US Defense Secretary, Ashton Carter apologized for the wrongful shipment of a live anthrax sample to the US military base in South Korea, but it is still questionable, "why did they send the anthrax sample to South Korea?" Although the US Defense Department explained that the sample was meant to "defend the Korean people by testing currently fielded equipment and new systems that could better identify toxins and pathogens in the environment,” I don't know up to which level we should allow the US military to test their weapons by potentially harming the Korean people's health. 

 (Source: http://www.koreaobserver.com/u-s-apologizes-for-wrong-anthrax-shipment-to-south-korea-29395/)

 I've been thinking about this issue for weeks and hesitant to write about it on my blog because it 's hard to explain it in a simple way. There are so many social and cultural issues involved in the current MERS outbreak.  However, I just can't be silent when people are suffered from the virus and others' judgment. I just can't stand the stupidity of the social system which is of no use in preventing the same tragic event from happening again and again. Hope the outbreak of the MERS will disappear soon in South Korea and we can learn a lesson from this situation. 

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[Big Bang] Les Costumes et Les Danses Coréens dans la M/V de 'Bae Bae'

오후 9:09 snowflake 0 Comments

Un groupe d'idole populaire coréen, Big Bang a publié une nouvelle chanson, <Bae Bae> et sa vidéo de musique le 30 Avril, 2015.




Comme vous le savez, les costumes traditionnels coréens que les filles portent dans cette M/V, ils s'appellent "Han-Bok."



Bien sûr, ils ne sont pas de formes très traditionnelles, mais modernisé pour l'atmosphère plus sexy.

Dans cette M/V, TOP (rappeur et acteur célèbre en Corée) flirte avec une fille, en soulevant sa jupe de hanbok.


Si vous ne connaissez pas la danse du masque traditionnel coréen, <Haehoe Masque Danse Drame Performance (Hahoe byeolsingut talnori)>, vous pouvez trouver qu'il est un peu pervers. Mais le jeu de TOP dans cette scène semble être influencée par le même acte dans <Haehoe Masque Danse Performance>, qui critique les actes immoraux du noble corrompu durant la dynastie Joseon.

(source: http://myter.tistory.com/175)

Si vous voulez en savoir plus à propos de <Hahoe Masque Danse Drame Performance>, aller à l'adresse suivante: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hahoe_byeolsingut_talnori

De plus, il est une autre danse intéressant dans la scène de Bae Bae. Les membres de Big Bang dansent avec les danseuses pendant le refrain et les mouvements de danse sont très SEXY. G-Dragon (le chef du Big Bang, rappeur, compositeur et l'icône de la mode en Corée) a récemment admis que, pour ce mouvement de danse, il a été inspirés par la «Danse du jeu avec le feu> par les comédiens, Park Myungsoo et Jung Joonha de l'émission coréenne, <Infinite Challenge>.

(Source: http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/532858)

Je ne sais pas si vous connaissez déjà ces comédiens. Ils sont très célèbres en Corée du Sud et apparaissent sur la M/V de la chanson <Gentleman> par Psy.



(Source: http://voluptas.tistory.com/110)

Eh bien, la «danse du jeu avec le feu» est certainement pour les téléspectateurs adultes, mais il y a un mouvement de danse très mignon dans Bae Bae. Je l'aime beaucoup et c'est sûr un movement de danse pour tous les âges. 


De 02:42 de la M/V pour les paroles suivantes:

Comme des gâteaux de riz, comme des gâteaux de riz
Notre alchimie, notre alchimie, 
Comme des gâteaux de riz, comme des gâteaux de riz 
Notre alchimie, notre alchimie
Ce mouvement de danse me rappelle de la «Danse des Petits Mariés> que je jouais avec des garçons dans les sportives réunions d'automne pendant mes jours d'école primaire. Si mignon!

Mais il n'est pas la première fois que GD danse comme le petit marié avec son partenaire. Il a participé à la <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> en 2013. À ce moment-là , GD et son partenaire Jung Hyungdon, ils ont joué la danse des petits mariés pour leur chanson, "(Je) Vais essayer (해 볼라고).'

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cND4vIc2Zac)


Donc, je pense que les traditionnels mouvements de danse peuvent GD ou les chorégraphes de danse dans sa compagnie, YG interesser beaucoup  ... Ou, je peux dire qu'ils sont très bons à modifier les mouvements anciens pour leurs chansons très tendance afin qu'ils peut créer une sensation unique de rétro-futuriste pour la scène.

Eh bien .... il est mon premier écrit dans mon blog. Il a fallu plus de temps et plus d'efforts que je m'y attendais. J'avais plus à dire, mais peut-être c'est assez pour la première fois. À bientôt!

-snowflake





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[Big Bang] Bae Bae M/V and Korean Costumes and Dances

오전 7:26 snowflake 0 Comments

One of the most popular Korean male idol groups, Big Bang released a new single, 'Bae Bae' and its music video on April 30, 2015

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKD03uPVD-Q).

As you may know, girls in this M/V are in the traditional Korean costume, Han-bok.


Of course, it's not a very traditional shape but modernized for the sexier feel. 

In this M/V, Top (Big Bang's rapper and famous movie actor now in Korea) flirts with a girl by lifting her Hanbok skirt. 


If you don't know the Korean traditional mask dance, 'Haehoe Mask Dance Drama Performance (Hahoe byeolsingut talnori), you may find it a little pathetic. But Top's playing in this scene seems to be influenced by the same act in the traditional mask dance performance, which criticizes the corrupted Nobleman's immoral acts during the Chosun Dynasty. 

(source: http://myter.tistory.com/175)

If you want to know more about Hahoe Mask Dance Drama Performance, go to the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hahoe_byeolsingut_talnori

Also, there is another interesting dance in the Bae Bae stage. Big Bang members dance with female dancers during the chorus and the dance moves are quite S.E.X.Y. G-Dragon (leader of Big Bang, rapper, composer and the leading fashion icon in Korea) recently admitted that, for this dance move, they were inspired by the 'Dance of Playing with Fire' by the comedians, Park Myungsoo and Jung Joonha from the Korean top reality/variety show, 'Infinite Challenge.' 

(Source: http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/532858)

I don't know if you already know these comedians. They are quite famous in South Korea and appear on Psy's Gentleman M/V as cameo.



(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASO_zypdnsQ)

(Source: http://voluptas.tistory.com/110)

Oh well, the 'dance of playing with fire' is definitely for adult viewers but there is a very cute dance move I like and it is safe to watch for the viewers of every age. 


This is from 2:42 of the M/V for the following lyrics: 

Like rice cakes, like rice cakes1
Our chemistry, our chemistry
Like rice cakes, like rice cakes
Our chemistry, our chemistry

(Source: http://www.kpoplyrics.net/big-bang-bae-bae-lyrics-english-romanized.html#ixzz3c6OgbbNJ)


This dance move reminds me of the 'Dance of Little Groom & Little Bride,' which I used to play with boys in the autumn athletic (sports) meetings during my elementary school days. So cute! 

But it's not the first time I see that GD is dancing as Little Groom with his partner. When he participated in the 'Infinite Challenge Music Festival' in 2013 (the Korean reality/variety show, 'Infinite Challenge' hosts the music festival every other year), he and his partner, comedian Jung Hyungdon played the dance of little groom and little bride for their song, 'Going to try'.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cND4vIc2Zac)


So, to me, it seems like that GD or his company YG dance choreographers are quite into the traditional dance moves...Or, I can say that at least they are very good at modifying old moves for their very trendy songs so that they can create a unique, retro-futuristic feel for the stage.    

Well....it's my first meaningful entry in my blog. It took longer time and more effort than I expected. I had more to say but maybe it's enough for the first time. Hope you enjoyed reading some background information of Bae Bae M/V and please wait for my next posting in French. See you!

-snowflake





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