Sovereign Violence: Ethics and South Korean Cinema in the New Millennium

What is it about?

South Korea is home to one of the most vibrant film industries in the world today, producing movies for a strong domestic market that are also drawing the attention of audiences worldwide. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of some of the most well-known and incendiary South Korean films of the millennial decade from nine major directors. Building his analysis on contemporary film theory and philosophy, as well as interviews and other primary sources, Steve Choe makes a case that these often violent films pose urgent ethical dilemmas central to life in the age of neoliberal globalization.

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Why is it important?

Although Sovereign Violence treats individuals films such as Kim Ki-duk's Address Unknown, Park Chan-wook's Oldboy, and Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine, it addresses ethical and political issues that are intrinsic to modern life more generally. Contemporary Korean cinema offers a unique perspective on how these issues may be confronted.