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Summary

The script portrays the struggles of the Kim family, who live in a semi-basement apartment and resort to deceptive schemes to secure better jobs by infiltrating the wealthy Park family’s household. Through manipulation and lies, the Kims slowly replace the Park family’s employees with their own, all while hiding their true circumstances. As the story unfolds, the dark side of class inequality and the harsh reality of the social ladder is exposed. The script critiques the systemic divide between the rich and poor, highlighting the illusion of upward mobility and how wealth and privilege often shape one’s fate.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Kim family lives in a semi-basement apartment, struggling to survive by doing menial jobs, such as working for a pizza box company.
• 😀 They use creative methods to get by, such as stealing Wi-Fi and keeping their windows open to receive free fumigation, even if it means breathing in the smoke.
• 😀 A friend of the young Kim, named Min, visits with an idea to help them: to have Kiwi substitute as an English tutor for the wealthy Park family's daughter.
• 😀 Kiwi manages to fake his credentials and impresses Mrs. Park, who hires him without checking his papers, highlighting the class divide between the rich and poor.
• 😀 The Kim family, using their connections, begins infiltrating the Park household by recommending each other for various roles like an art therapist, a driver, and a housekeeper.
• 😀 The underlying message of the film is that success is often determined more by who you know rather than what you know, with the Kim family’s advancement based on manipulation and false representation.
• 😀 The Kim family gradually takes over the Park household, and while they live better, their aspirations to escape the basement are marred by their dishonesty and manipulation.
• 😀 A major plot twist occurs when the former housekeeper, Moon, reveals a hidden bunker beneath the Park house, where her husband has been living in secret for years.
• 😀 Tensions rise when Moon tries to blackmail the Kims, and the family struggles to keep control, ultimately culminating in violence when they try to cover up their deceit.
• 😀 The film critiques the social divide and the limited mobility for the poor, as demonstrated by the Kim family's tragic end, underscoring the harsh reality that those born into poverty are often unable to escape it.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the script?

The main theme of the script revolves around social inequality, class struggles, and the harsh realities faced by the poor in a society dominated by the rich. It explores the idea of upward mobility and the lengths to which people will go to improve their social status, only to find that success is often more about who you know than what you know.

How do the Kim family members manage to survive in difficult circumstances?

The Kim family survives by engaging in low-paying, temporary jobs such as working in pizza boxes, stealing Wi-Fi, and trying to exploit the rich family's ignorance to improve their situation. They manipulate the situation by recommending each other for various roles within the Park family household.

What does the script suggest about the difference between the rich and the poor?

The script highlights the stark contrast between the rich and the poor, symbolized by the physical positioning of the Park mansion, which is situated above, and the Kim family's semibasement home, located below. This represents the notion that the rich are always on top, while the poor are relegated to the bottom, both literally and metaphorically.

What role does deception play in the Kim family's journey?

Deception is a central element in the Kim family's journey. They fabricate qualifications, forge relationships, and manipulate situations to infiltrate the Park family household. Their success is based on deception, suggesting that the social system values appearances over real ability or qualifications.

How does the script critique the concept of meritocracy?

The script critiques the concept of meritocracy by illustrating how success is often more about who you know than your actual skills or qualifications. Despite the Kim family’s lack of formal education, they succeed through manipulation and social connections, pointing out that in reality, those from privileged backgrounds have far greater chances of success, regardless of their abilities.

What symbolic meaning does the stone represent in the script?

The stone in the script symbolizes false hope and the illusion of upward mobility. While it is initially presented as a tool to bring wealth and fortune, it ultimately serves as a reminder of the Kim family's desperation and their belief in a system that is unlikely to change their fate.

What is the significance of the búnker hidden in the Park family's house?

The búnker symbolizes the hidden and dark undercurrent of society that is often overlooked by the privileged. The secret shelter under the Park family's house represents the extreme lengths to which the less fortunate will go to survive. It also underscores the theme of class segregation, where the poor are forced to hide and live in the shadows.

What does the storm represent in the narrative?

The storm in the narrative represents the unpredictable nature of life and the chaos that can disrupt the fragile systems of control and power. It serves as a turning point in the story, as the Park family’s trip is canceled, and the Kim family’s deceptive plans begin to unravel. The storm is both a literal and metaphorical force that shifts the balance of power.

What is the significance of the final scene with the father sending Morse code?

The final scene, where the father uses Morse code to send messages to his son from the basement, signifies the hopeless cycle that the Kim family finds themselves trapped in. Despite their efforts to escape their poverty, they remain stuck in a system that continues to oppress them. The father's secret existence in the basement also represents the persistence of the past and the inability to escape one’s roots.

How does the script address the issue of social mobility?

The script presents a pessimistic view of social mobility, showing that no matter how hard the Kim family works or how clever they are, they cannot truly escape their social class. The message suggests that, in the end, those born into poverty are likely to remain poor, while the wealthy remain in power, reinforcing the idea that upward mobility is largely a fantasy for the less privileged.