South Korean government allocates funds to improve semi-basement family housing conditions due to Parasite

After the South Korean movie "Parasite" won multiple Oscars, the semi-basements where the poor live in South Korea in the film have received widespread attention. According to recent reports from South Korean media, the Seoul government will allocate funds to improve the housing conditions of 1,500 families living in semi-basements, including improving heating systems, replacing floors, installing air conditioners and other basic facilities. Each family can receive a maximum of 3.2 million won (about 19,000 yuan) in funding.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea in 2018, there are currently 380,000 households living in underground, semi-underground and attics in South Korea. In Seoul, the most prosperous city in South Korea, the proportion of households living in semi-basements accounts for nearly 60% of the country. Most of the residents have low income levels, and semi-basements are an "affordable choice" for many people living in Seoul.

The current situation depicted in "Parasite" is obviously the most realistic portrayal of Korean real society. With the popularity of the film, the South Korean government has paid attention to this phenomenon. The introduction of such an initiative now is undoubtedly good news for the poor living in semi-basements.

This is not the first time that Korean movies have pushed the government's policies. Earlier, the movie "The Crucible" starring Gong Yoo was controversial after its release, which also prompted the Korean government to speed up the revision of the law on the protection of minors.