As the end of the second week of the semester approached, I thought it would be interesting to watch the Korean horror drama called “Kingdom”. It had recently been added onto Netflix and I thought that it was amazing to see a media service website with a diverse collection of shows that are representative of many cultures. I decided to watch this drama because I heard that it was popular among Korean youths and also because I wanted to try something new and watch a show that was set in the more traditional, old Korean times.
I cannot watch anything scary, so for some parts of the movie, I had to cover the screen so that only the subtitles were visible. There was one scene in particular that was shocking that I think is still a relevant issue today. The generals and soldiers were trying to get rid of the bodies of those who were infected by burning them. During that time period, the burning of bodies was disgraceful and showed a sign of disrespect. The wealthy people in the town rebelled and wouldn’t allow the officials to burn their family members. Another assistant came up with the idea that they should burn the bodies of the peasants and bury the high-class members. The difference between them could easily be detected through the material of their clothing.
As someone who does not have a high socio-economic status, it was difficult to enjoy watching the scene as the poor were treated like they were objects even though they were infected the same way as the wealthy. The idea of status is portrayed in every society, even on our campus. Those who are comfortable can afford a car and have the freedom to go to any internship site they receive while those who do not have access to a car are limited to the areas where the service shuttles travel. Another example are the sororities and fraternities that are a major part of UR culture. To be a part of the group, students must go through different stages of initiation and need to pay dues that could cost around 200 dollars every semester. The also attend events in which they must dress in specific clothing. Those who do not have an abundance of money will spend their money on food expenses and their tuition rather than clothes and joining Greek life. The students who want to join but are unable to will also be missing out on all the connections and new friends that the sororities or fraternities could bring.
I personally chose not to be a part of Greek life, but I would say that growing up in a family with low economic status, I had to overcome more trials and obstacles to prove myself than my peers who had access to more opportunities. Especially in Korea where parents strive to give their kids a better education, the wealthier families are able to afford for their children to attend more academies and provide better opportunities for them. Economic statuses of all people will be different, but they should all receive the same amount of respect because everyone had to endure difficulties to get to where they are in life.
Comments
So Myung,
Thank you for sharing your views and thought on the drama, "Kingdom". I, like you during horror movies, will cover my eyes during scary scenes. Sometimes, if I feel like I can handle it, I will split apart my fingers just a tiny bit to see a fraction of the screen. Nevertheless, your insight on the role of status at our university is an issue that I also have had long-deep thoughts about. I believe there are a lot of opportunities at our school that promote the exclusion of members of the student body, whether that exclusion comes from socio-economic status, your ethnicity, your appearance and or a combination of those factors. However, with ever yin there is a yang. I feel like there are opportunities on campus to bring people together that look beyond such trivial characteristics and it is the people like this we should surround ourselves with.
Stay true to yourself. Take pride in who you are and where you are from.
This is a fascinating post, So Myung. Please look to include pictures, examples video clips, etc., to help elucidate or demonstrate your points.