Credits
Distributed by
CJ Entertainment
Production company
Barunson E&A
Hangul
기생충
Revised Romanization
Gisaengchung
McCune-Reischauer
Kisaengch'ung
Directed by
Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay by
Bong Joon-ho
Han Jin-won
Story by
Bong Joon-ho
Produced by
Kwak Sin-ae
Moon Yang-kwon
Bong Joon-ho
Jang Young-hwan
Cinematography
Hong Kyung-pyo
Edited by
Yang Jin-mo
Music by
Jung Jae-il
Details
The Kim family live in a semi-basement flat (banjiha) in Seoul, have low-income jobs, and struggle for money. Min-hyuk, a university student, gives the family a scholar's rock meant to promise wealth. Leaving to study abroad, he suggests that the Kim's son, Ki-woo, pose as a university student to take over his job as an English language tutor for Da-hye, the daughter of the rich Park family. After his sister Ki-jung helps create a false certificate for him in Photoshop, Ki-woo, posing as a Yonsei University student, is subsequently hired by the Park family. The Kim family schemes to get each member a job with the Park family. The Kim daughter, Ki-jung, poses as "Jessica" and, using Ki-woo as a reference, becomes an art therapist to the Parks' young son, Da-song. Ki-jung frames Yoon, Mr Park's driver, by making it appear he had a sexual encounter in the car, then recommends her father, Ki-taek, to replace him. The Kims exploit the peach allergy of the Parks' long-time housekeeper, Moon-gwang, to convince Mrs Park that she has tuberculosis, and the Kim mother, Chung-sook, is hired to replace her. Ki-woo begins a secret romantic relationship with Da-hye. When the Parks leave on a camping trip, the Kims revel in the luxuries of the house. Moon-gwang appears at the door, telling Chung-sook she left something in the basement. She enters a hidden entrance to an underground bunker created by the architect and previous homeowner. There, Moon-gwang's husband, Geun-sae, has been secretly living for over four years, hiding from loan sharks. Chung-sook refuses Moon-gwang's pleas to help Geun-sae remain in the bunker, but the eavesdropping Kims accidentally reveal themselves. Moon-gwang films them on her phone and threatens to expose their ruse to the Park family. The Parks call to tell them they'll be returning early, due to a severe rainstorm flooding the camping area, and that they need Chung-sook to make a bowl of ram-don to cheer Da-song up. The Kims scramble to clean up the home and subdue Moon-gwang and Geun-sae before the Parks arrive. They trap Geun-sae and Moon-gwang in the bunker. Mrs Park reveals to Chung-sook that Da-song had a seizure-inducing traumatic experience on a previous birthday, when he saw a "ghost" - actually Geun-sae - emerging from the basement at night. Ki-jung, Ki-taek and Ki-woo hide under a table within earshot of Mr and Mrs Park, who have sex on the sofa nearby. They overhear Mr Park's comments about Ki-taek's odour. The Kims escape and find their flat flooded with sewer water following the rainstorm, and shelter in a gymnasium with other displaced people. The next day, Mrs Park hosts a house party for Da-song's birthday with the Kim family's assistance. Ki-woo enters the bunker with the scholar's rock to find Geun-sae. Finding Moon-gwang has died from a concussion she received during the brawl, he is attacked by a deranged Geun-sae. He bludgeons his head with the scholars rock and escapes, leaving Ki-woo lying in a pool of blood at the entrance to the basement. Seeking to avenge Moon-gwang, Geun-sae stabs Ki-jung with a kitchen knife in front of the horrified guests. Da-song suffers another traumatic seizure upon seeing Geun-sae, and a struggle breaks out until Chung-sook fatally impales Geun-sae with a barbecue skewer. Weeks later, Ki-woo is recovering from a brain operation. He and Chung-sook are convicted of fraud and put on probation. Ki-jung has died from her injuries, and Ki-taek, wanted by the authorities, cannot be found. Geun-sae is assumed to be an insane homeless man, and neither his nor Ki-taek's motive for the murders are known. Ki-woo spies on the Parks’ home, now occupied by a German family unaware of its history, and sees a message in Morse code from a flickering light. Ki-taek, who escaped into the bunker, has buried Moon-gwang in the garden and sends the message every day, hoping Ki-woo will see it. Still living in their basement flat with his mother, Ki-woo writes a letter to Ki-taek, vowing to earn enough money to purchase the house and reunite with his dad.