10 Movies That Changed Everything In Ways You Didn't Expect
4. The South Korean Government Agreed To Renovate 1,500 Basement Apartments - Parasite
Winning the Best Picture Oscar certainly gives any movie a lot of cultural cachet, but even so, did anyone expect Bong Joon-ho's Parasite's to have any major, real-world ramifications?
Despite its larger-than-life thriller narrative, Parasite drew global attention to the basement apartments (banjiha) that many of Seoul's poorer citizens reside in.
As in the film, these dwellings are prone to flooding and therefore also the growth of mould, which typically counts them among the city's cheapest accommodation.
With Parasite shining a light on this societal issue, Seoul's local government introduced a scheme to help improve the living conditions of 1,500 low-income families living in the banjiha. This included installing new heating systems, air conditioners, windows, and fire alarms, as well as replacing floors.
And just recently, Seoul authorities announced an initiative to phase out the banjiha altogether, by converting existing dwellings and denying planning permission for more basement apartments, after three people drowned in one of the banjiha during heavy rainfall.