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The Topic of Debt and Poverty in South Korean Cinema

The struggle of not being able to afford the things we want and often the items we need is truly well-known for everyone. Topics like being in debt or growing up poor have been explored in Asian media for the longest time, although some excellent movies and TV shows have come out of South Korea quite recently. These movies have resonated with many viewers from different countries on a personal level. Luckily, in many cases, it is possible to take a necessary loan, even if you have a bad credit history. For example, there are services like Payday Depot that allow you to take the required money quickly and repay it efficiently instead of collecting debts. Check out some of the best movies and shows below that tackle the issue of earning money in different ways.

Some of the Best Recent Movies and Shows about Financial Inequality

While South Korea has a prominent cinema industry, some of the recent TV shows and movies have become insanely popular abroad as well. If you are looking for some great recommendations, consider the following titles:

  • Squid Game: The name ‘squid game’ refers to a children’s game widely known and loved in Korea. The main character, Seong Gi-hun, is in debt because of his gambling addiction. He is also divorced and lives with his old mother. His ex-wife did not want their daughter to grow up with the failure of a father, which only contributed to Gi-hun’s downfall. Miraculously, he is given the chance to participate in a competition where various games must be played to win a huge sum of money. However, this competition is not what it seems, and there will be the last one standing quite literally.
  • Parasite: The Kim family of four really needs money. They all have a low income and live in a poor semi-basement apartment. The flat is flooded when it rains, and there are many more hardships. One time, their son has a chance to become an English teacher for a girl from a rich family. He forges his certificate and receives a high-paying job. Subsequently, all of his family members get various jobs there living by the rule of fake it till you make it. Will they succeed in their fraud, or will they pay an even higher price?
  • Beasts Clawing at Straws: The main character, Joong-man, working a low-paying job mysteriously finds a bag of money. Tae-young who works for a criminal needs a quick way of making up to him to save his life. Mi-ran works as a hostess and has an abusive husband, whom her young lover promises to kill for money. In this noir drama, the survival of the fittest begins.

These three completely different stories revolve around the same issue of money, debt, and being stuck in a loop because of your class. Explore these movies and shows to see how different characters tackle debt and the results of their actions. It becomes evident that the best way to earn cash is to work hard and repay your loans on time.

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