Korean movies introduce culture
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Moviegoers Ambri Rahayu and Ery Sandra Amelia were excited about seeing Korean heartthrob Won Bin's latest film -- Taegukgi (the Korean national flag) -- a production they already knew was a big hit in Korea.
"I like Korean actors, their acting is the best in Asia. I became a big fan of Won Bin after I saw his acting in My Brother, which was also a box office success in Korea. Now, I'm eager to see other Korean movies," Ambri said.
The two women, along with a dozen of other Won Bin fans, joined the crowd at the auditorium at the University of Indonesia's School of Humanities in Depok, during the opening ceremony for Korean Movie Week on Tuesday. The four-day festival screening eight Korean films will end on Friday afternoon.
An initiative of governmental development body the Korean International Agency (KOICA) and the university's Center for the Development of Arts and Culture (PPSB), the event was created to promote a better understanding of Korean culture among students here, the organizers said.
"Most Indonesians are still unfamiliar with Korean culture. To increase the popularity of our culture, KOICA wants to promote it in the most enjoyable way -- through movies," KOICA spokesman Jang Hyun Sub told The Jakarta Post.
Korean films are on the up internationally, praised for their innovative techniques and increasingly accepted by moviegoers worldwide, especially in Japan and China. Strong government support of the arts has seen 260 billion won (US$257.9 million) spent between 2000 to 2002 to boost production and promote Korean films overseas.
At least two Korean movies, My Sassy Girl and My Wife is a Gangster have recently shown in city cinemas here.
The eight festival films have a variety of themes, with more serious historical works rubbing shoulders with modern social satire and comedies.
The festival opens with Taegukgi, which tells the story of Koreans living during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, and closes with a romantic comedy -- My Little Bride.
Hyun said the films would help the audience understand the cultural and economic transformation that Korea had gone through from the 1950s to the present, something that could help Indonesians with their own national development.
"If Korea could transform itself from a war-torn country into a developed country, I think Indonesia, which has more potential and resources, can do the same. So, I hope the movies could also motivate Indonesians to move forward," said Hyun, who is also KOICA's junior expert on information and technology.
PPSB coordinator for cultural activities Muhammad Yusuf said he hoped the audience would learn from the positive Korean behavior and attitudes shown in the movies.
"We hope that whoever sees these movies gets a good picture of how Koreans behave. Koreans are famous for respecting their parents, teachers, and for the friendships they share. All these movies contain these messages. I hope our students can absorb some positive values from them," Yusuf said. (006)