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Go Behind the Scenes of Bong Joon-ho’s Masterpiece
“Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
– Bong Joon-ho
When Parasite took the world by storm in 2019, it shattered expectations. It broke barriers. It became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Behind the haunting narrative, the direction shines flawlessly. The production is full of surprising stories and intricate set designs. Creative decisions changed cinema forever.
Today, we’re taking a deep dive behind the scenes. It includes video content. You’ll also find 10 must-know facts about how this genre-bending thriller was made.
📝 Get a glimpse of the meticulous production design and Bong’s visionary direction in action.
🎥 What Is Parasite About?
Parasite follows the poor but clever Kim family. They gradually infiltrate the lives of the wealthy Park family by posing as unrelated workers. What begins as a darkly comic con game starts with humor. It then shifts into a sharp social commentary. Ultimately, it ends in a terrifying and unpredictable twist on class warfare.
📍 Genre: Thriller / Satire / Dark Comedy
🏆 Awards: 4 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature
🌟 10 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About Parasite
1. The House Was Built from Scratch 🏡
That stunning Park house? It’s not real. Production designer Lee Ha-jun built the entire structure from scratch — designed with camera movement, lighting, and symbolism in mind.
🎬 The backyard, basement, and second floor were all constructed as separate sets.
2. Bong Joon-ho Sketched Every Shot ✏️
Bong created a full storyboard with hand-drawn images, down to exact camera angles. He showed it to actors before every scene so they could visualize the emotional tone and movement.
🧠 “It’s like reading a comic book version of the film,” said actor Song Kang-ho.
3. The Ram-Don Dish Became a National Craze 🍜
The dish that Mrs. Park requests — called “ram-don” in subtitles — is a combo of two real Korean instant noodles: Chapagetti and Neoguri. After the movie’s release, sales of both skyrocketed.
📈 Google searches for “ram-don” exploded globally in 2020.
4. The Flood Scene Took Days to Film 🌧️
The unforgettable scene of the Kims’ semi-basement apartment flooding was filmed in a massive water tank set, with real sewage-coloured water pumped in over several nights.
💦 The bathroom flooding was especially tricky — the set was built on an angle to make the water rise dramatically.
5. The Title Has Multiple Meanings 🎭
Who exactly is the “parasite”? The Kims, infiltrating the Park home? Or the Parks, feeding off cheap labour and blissful ignorance?
🎭 Bong intentionally left it open to interpretation — which fuelled post-film debate worldwide.
6. The Film Was Inspired by Bong’s Own Life 📚
Years ago, Bong tutored for a wealthy family, much like Ki-woo. That experience planted the seed for Parasite and its themes of class disparity and infiltration.
📖 “Back then, I was like a spy in that house,” he said.
5. The Title Has Multiple Meanings 🎭
Who exactly is the “parasite”? The Kims, infiltrating the Park home? Or the Parks, feeding off cheap labour and blissful ignorance?
🎭 Bong intentionally left it open to interpretation — which fuelled post-film debate worldwide.
6. The Film Was Inspired by Bong’s Own Life 📚
Years ago, Bong tutored for a wealthy family, much like Ki-woo. That experience planted the seed for Parasite and its themes of class disparity and infiltration.
📖 “Back then, I was like a spy in that house,” he said.
7. The Morse Code Wall Was Functional 💡
The light switch that Geun-sae uses to send Morse code messages? It really worked. The actor learned Morse code for the scenes, and the blinking was synced live.
💡 It’s more than a plot point — it’s a metaphor for communication breakdown across class lines.
8. There Are No Villains — Only Systems ⚖️
Bong Joon-ho has said there are no true villains in Parasite. Instead, each character is a product of a broken social system, where even kindness has limits under capitalism.
🗣️ “It’s not about good or bad people — it’s about survival.”
9. It Was the First Korean Film to Win the Palme d’Or 🏆
At Cannes 2019, Parasite became the first South Korean film to win the festival’s highest honor — and received a standing ovation that lasted more than 8 minutes.
🎉 It was the beginning of a history-making award season.
10. No Test Screenings, No Rewrites, No Reshoots 🔥
Unlike many Hollywood films, Parasite had zero test screenings, no rewrites after shooting, and no alternate endings.
Bong knew exactly what he wanted — and shot it with laser precision.
🎯 The result? A film that felt deliberate, seamless, and unforgettable.
8. There Are No Villains — Only Systems ⚖️
Bong Joon-ho has said there are no true villains in Parasite. Instead, each character is a product of a broken social system, where even kindness has limits under capitalism.
🗣️ “It’s not about good or bad people — it’s about survival.”
9. It Was the First Korean Film to Win the Palme d’Or 🏆
At Cannes 2019, Parasite became the first South Korean film to win the festival’s highest honor — and received a standing ovation that lasted more than 8 minutes.
🎉 It was the beginning of a history-making award season.
10. No Test Screenings, No Rewrites, No Reshoots 🔥
Unlike many Hollywood films, Parasite had zero test screenings, no rewrites after shooting, and no alternate endings.
Bong knew exactly what he wanted — and shot it with laser precision.
🎯 The result? A film that felt deliberate, seamless, and unforgettable.
💬 Why Parasite Changed the Game
Parasite isn’t just a film — it’s a cultural phenomenon that opened the doors for more non-English films to get the recognition they deserve. With masterful storytelling, biting satire, and jaw-dropping visuals, Bong Joon-ho redefined what global cinema could achieve.
“The most personal is the most creative.” — Bong Joon-ho, quoting Martin Scorsese
👇 What Was Your Favourite Scene in Parasite?
Was it the party reveal? The basement discovery? That final twist?
Drop your thoughts in the comments — and share this post with someone who loves smart cinema with sharp teeth. 🧠🧨
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