Sociological Representations of Apartments in Korean Thrillers

Abstract

Many things have changed in Korea since the Korean War. Yet the most visible representation of its evolution has been the extensive homogenization of its residential spaces. The country‟s horizon is dominated by high-rise apartment blocks that push into the skyline through all of its cities, towns and suburbs and many of its rural spaces. Today, almost 60% of residents in Korea live in apartment towers. 1 The symbol of the contemporary Korean dream, the high-rise apartment has supplanted traditional residential spaces, while at the same time fostering a new culture more in tune with the individualistic mindset that has become more pronounced in today‟s Korean society. Modern Korean films, especially contemporary thrillers, have latched onto the unique architectural and thematic potential of the modern Korean apartment. By analyzing several genre films that foreground the social and structural impact of modern apartments in contemporary Korean his-