Aspiration to become a force at the Cannes Film Festival in Korea
After making history at the Oscars, stirring up the Golden Ball, Grammy..., the Korean entertainment industry is showing new ambitions at the Cannes Film Festivals.
Korean cinema has left its mark at Cannes Film Festivals with a series of award-winning works, the appearance of Korean stars on the red carpet of Cannes is also becoming more and more powerful and impressive.
At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the film Parasite by director Bong Joon Ho won the Golden branch. At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, director Park Chan Wook won the Best Director award for the romantic horror film Decision to leave. In 2004, director Park Chan Wook won the Grand Prix with Oldboy - a classic work whose production rights were later bought by many countries.
Also at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Korean actor Song Kang Ho won the "Best Actor" award at Cannes 2022 for the film "Broker".
Korean cinema has been full of ambitions to reach out, conquering prestigious international awards.
Along with the growth and influence of Korean films, Korean stars are also increasingly walking around the red carpets of film festivals.
This year, although there are no films competing in the award, Korea has 7 works Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Along with that, the Korean stars from actors to Kpop singers all appeared impressively on the red carpet.
On May 23, the international media was " chaos" when Jennie - a member of Blackpink - appeared on the red carpet of Cannes. The international reporter called Jennie's name and invited her to take a personal photo. Korean media, Sports Chosun reported that more than 100 reporters have called Jennie's name. Jennie's appeal to the world media has delighted Korean public opinion.
Jennie attended Cannes with the crew of Idols. Before Jennie, Rose (Blackpink) also attended and caused chaos on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival on May 18.
Being sought after by international media has proven the great influence of Blackpink in particular, of Kpop in general when they step into the world.
Not only causing "chaos" with films, idol singers such as Jennie, Rose, V (BTS)... were also invited to participate in Cannes as image representatives of famous fashion and jewelry brands.
The power and influence of Kpop singers is now spreading strongly from the music field to fashion, cosmetics, and famous jewelry around the world.
International media is predicting that Kpop singers and Korean actors in the future will increasingly make a big appearance at Cannes Film Festivals with positions and influence in many different fields.
The urgency behind Jennie and Rose's influence in Cannes
Kpop needs more than ever a generation of bands to follow in the footsteps of the success that BTS and Blackpink have achieved.
SCMP once wrote an article about Kpop being too dependent on Blackpink and BTS. Meanwhile, BTS is currently on hiatus from group activities to perform military service. Blackpink has reached its peak, and it is unlikely to reach a larger peak, when it has reached its full potential.
Just a few weeks before the Cannes Film Festival, Blackpink's world tour was criticized for its messy organization to bad live singing ability, disappointing all 4 members.
The glamorous images of the Korean stars appearing majestically on the red carpet of Cannes show the ambition to reach international standards of this national entertainment industry, but are also showing the reality that the un coverable glamorousness is being eroded, if they do not have the successor team Blackpink or BTS.
Reflecting on the current state of Kpop, the Korea Times said that most of the fourth-generation K-pop artists and groups, especially boy groups, are not widely known to the public - even in Korea.
For the world, up to now, mentioning Kpop is only mentioning Blackpink and BTS.
