Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 is a simple and beautiful movie, worth watching that tackles the reality of women in Korean society.
Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 is based on the novel written by Cho Nam-joo. It was adapted into a film by the protagonist Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi who also worked together in Train to Busan. The novel was published in 2016 and garnered attention in 2017, then released as a film last year, in October 2019.
Story of Kim Ji-young: Born 1982
The movie is about Kim Ji Young, a woman who became a housewife after being married and then became a stay-at-home mother when she gave birth to their lovely daughter. Luckily, his husband is supportive but worries about her every day since he noticed that she’s different sometimes.
Kim Ji Young also grew up in a society where men are more powerful and favorable than women even inside the family or at work. She experienced sexual harassment, victim-blaming, and even the gender pay gap at work. The gender pay gap is where men get a higher salary than women.
Kim Ji Young is a good wife, she takes care of her baby and husband, and does the chores without complaining but later suffers depression and started taking other people’s personalities like her friend who died after giving birth, her grandmother, or her mother.
To overcome her depression, his husband suggested that she need to see a psychiatrist. At first, she worried about the cost so she didn’t continue but when she saw the video recorded by his husband that her personality changes sometimes she decided to pursue counseling.
But after receiving the counseling, she finds a way out. She started writing when she was sad or angry and that way she learned what she is capable of even though she’s just a stay-at-home mother.
Thoughts for you
This movie tackles the importance of acceptance, and understanding between men and women’s gender equality. We all know that mostly in Asian countries, men are patriarchal and should be threatened as king. After watching this movie, I realized that maybe 90% of housewives are the same as Kim Ji Young. Especially here in Korea, Korean wives are expected to do all household chores, take care of their husbands and kids, and help their mother-in-law during holidays or family gatherings.
In my case, my inlaws were expecting that I should fluently speak in Korean from the moment I stepped here to Korea. In addition to that, I should know how to cook Korean foods. When I first came here, I felt the same as Kim Ji Young, I always felt like I’m always in a battle. Taking care alone of my son, studying Korean, and doing endless chores at home.
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Xoxo, Hyejin
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