North South Man Woman
Showtimes
Since the beginning of the 21st century, South Koreans’ views on their neighbouring North Korea have started to shift . North Koreans are increasingly seen as foreigners or immigrants, even though ethnically they are the same people. At the same time, North Koreans have gained more and more visibility and positive attention in the media.
The Korean phrase nam-nam-buk-nyŏ (Southern man, Northern woman) refers to the prevailing perception that North Korean women are particularly beautiful, while South Korean men are especially handsome. This belief has been held up, for instance, by the talk show Now on My Way to Meet You, where North Korean “beauties” appear as guests. On the show, the women are portrayed not only as the perfect immigrants, but also often as ideal wives.
North South Man Woman takes a modern approach to the topic and follows several women who have defected from the North to the South and gotten married. At the centre of the narrative is Yujin Han, a successful North Korean-born businesswoman who assists men in finding a North Korean spouse.
Even though the women carry traumatic memories of their past, North South Man Woman focuses on their everyday lives in the present. It exposes fascinating cultural tensions between two nations that have grown further and further apart over the years, delving into topics such as gender roles, beauty standards and financial issues.
Viktoria Murskaja (translated by Sofia Lanki)
