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Bong celebrates with the cast of “Parasite” at the 2020 Academy Awards on Feb. 9.

When Bong Joon-ho was given the Academy Award for best director, a look of bewilderment came over his face. He kept running his hands down his face, as if overwhelmed with emotion. This stood in contrast to the poise he’d maintained when his film “Parasite” was named best original screenplay and best international feature film. After the awards ceremony was over, he told reporters it felt like he was dreaming, and that he’d wake up if he bonked his head with the trophy.

The 92nd Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 9, were a dream come true for all Koreans. “Parasite,” directed by Bong, carried the day with four awards, becoming the first Korean film to win best international feature film, best original screenplay, best director, and best picture. It was a moment that Koreans hadn’t thought was possible until it actually happened.

Why does Bong think his film was embraced by the Oscars? “Even though ‘Parasite’ is stuffed with Korean elements, it got even more love around the world than ‘Okja,’ which was a joint production by Koreans and Americans. I suppose it’s when we look at the things in our immediate vicinity that we gain the power to fascinate the whole world.”

It’s not easy for a foreign-language film — whose dialogue must be communicated through subtitles — to take a prize at the world-famous Academy Awards. Since winning best foreign language film at the Golden Globes in January, Bong had often spoken of the “one-inch-tall barrier” of subtitles.

But after the Oscars ceremony, he made the following correction: “I’ve talked about the one-inch-tall barrier, but maybe that impression is out of date. That barrier was already collapsing, and everyone is already connected through the surrounding environment of streaming videos on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. From now on, I hope that a foreign-language film winning this kind of award won’t be treated as a big deal anymore. I think the day will come when it all just feels natural.”

Renowned as an eloquent speaker, Bong also got tongues wagging about his witty responses during interviews with the foreign press about “Parasite.” “It’s all spur-of-the-moment,” Bong said. “When I’m up on stage, I just spit out the first sentence that comes to mind. While that’s being interpreted, I think of the next one. It’s one of the perks of having an interpreter,” he said with a smile.

South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho accepts the prize for best screenplay at the 2020 Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Bong’s remarks on Sunday included an unexpected emotional flourish. Upon taking the stage to receive the award for best director, he motioned to someone in the audience — the director Martin Scorsese, Bong’s idol and one of the other nominees for best director. Bong’s gesture of respect is likely to be long remembered. “Just being nominated alongside Scorsese is itself a surreal honor,” Bong said.

Among Asian directors, Bong mentioned that he’d been influenced by Kim Ki-young, director of “The Housemaid,” (1960) and Japanese cinematic masters such as Akira Kurosawa. “Kim Ki-young was one of the great directors of the 1960s. I strongly recommend his film ‘The Housemaid,’” Bong said. In effect, he was stressing that “Parasite” stands on the shoulders of the many Korean films that had gone before it.

After “Parasite” enjoyed its coup at the Oscars, there’s growing interest in what changes may be in store for the world of cinema, as well as what Hollywood projects Bong has up his sleeve. Bong fielded these questions deftly by quoting one of the best lines from “Parasite”: “I’ve got it all planned out,” he said with a chuckle.

“I’m continuing to work on the English-language film and Korean-language film I was working on before receiving the awards at Cannes and the Oscars. Those awards aren’t going to change anything or add any momentum.”

Bong’s next Korean-language film is going to focus on a frightening situation unfolding in an urban setting, while his next English-language film will be based on a true story that occurred in London in 2016. He’ll also be involved with the “Parasite” TV series that’s being produced by HBO.

“I got an award for just doing what I’ve always done,” Bong said. Since he doesn’t mean to change his approach, we can’t help wondering what new surprises he has in store for us.

By Nam Ji-eun, staff reporter

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