Abstract: As Korean films and streaming series continue to evolve within global media streams, the Korean science fiction (sci-fi) genre has reemerged with a distinctive critical framework rooted in authentic local social issues. This study analyzes two pioneering works, Space Sweepers and The Silent Sea , as Korean space sci-fi productions released by Netflix. These narratives emphasize dystopian elements inherent in Korea’s neoliberal social values and the widespread distrust in societal systems, extending from the present into the future. This distinctive approach differentiates Korean sci-fi from other dystopian TV shows and films worldwide, even though neoliberal social critique is a recurring theme in Korean media. Through textual analysis, we explore the nuanced depiction of neoliberal human experiences as the central critical framework, reflecting real-life challenges faced in Korea. These narratives provoke critical social themes and capture experiences that, while bearing similarities, diverge from those in other capitalist societies. Consequently, transnational viewers are invited to engage in deeper sociopolitical and ideological reflections, resonating with their own contexts.
Ju et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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