South Korean Movies

While watching some South Korean movies, there is always something that bothers me - the prevalence of violence, even in movies with supposedly non-violent themes such as romance movies. It seems that hittings and beatings are common in Korean situations, and these violent scenes are not even central to the storylines!

And what bothers me even further is the impunity which people with authority (bosses, supervisors etc) can do to their subordinates. And some of my most unforgettable scenes from Korean movies involved the way elementary and high school students were punished (sometimes brutally) by teachers in schools. Is this still happening to Korean kids these days?

While I do understand that just as Hollywood movies should never be taken as a true indication of American society, Korean movies should also not be seen as an accurate depiction of Korean life and society.

But with so much violence in everyday situations involving families, relationships and romances (not far-fetched situations like being hunted down by FBI agents or attacked by extra-terrestrial beings), it is hard not to form certain "impressions" about Korea. Already, I have many Asian friends remarking to me, after watching Korean movies and drama serials, that they thought "Korea and Koreans are sooooooooo conservative".

I wonder if this is the unintended side-effect of hallyu (or Korean wave) - these less-than-flattering impressions that people form about Korea and Korean society.