Seoul Plans To Ban "Parasite"-Style Basement Homes After Horrific Flood Kills Family

This week, Seoul, South Korea, has suffered the heaviest rainfalls in 80 years.

Seoul is under warning for heavy rain, stay away from areas prone to landslides and flooding and try not to go out unless absolutely necessary~ pic.twitter.com/1mhfowZnMi

— 래빗🐇💜 (inactive) (@skyetokki) August 28, 2018

[Ministry of Public Administration and Security] Today at 7:40pm, heavy rain and landslide warning in effect for Seoul. Evacuate if in dangerous areas of habitual flooding. Please avoid going out and stay safe.

— Ministry of Public Administration and Security’s Emergency Alert

It has resulted in severe flooding and power outages in areas such as Gangnam and Incheon. Many Korean netizens have shared their POVs, revealing cars submerged completely in water, flooded establishments, subway stations, homes, etc.

Many agreed that it seemed to be something straight from “a horror movie,” but a specific one came to mind…

This is like a horror movie 😱pic.twitter.com/QxmQmSqhLa

— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) August 8, 2022

Netizens couldn’t help but think of Bong Joon Ho‘s 2019 Oscar-winning film Parasite. Some even wondered if it foreshadowed it.

The flooded garage at one of the most exclusive apartments in Seoul. The irony of this flood is that unlike in the movie 'Parasite', the flooding did its number in the richest districts https://t.co/weDxETTGUm

— Kimchi Premium (@cafetero7878) August 9, 2022

These are all people who clearly did not understand Parasite

— 🇺🇦Ariel 아리엘🇺🇦 (@ArchivistAriel) August 9, 2022

i saw a video of the flood in sk and thought of parasite then scrolled two videos down pic.twitter.com/hsmeSJZZS7

— ☆ (@4townults) August 9, 2022

In the third act of Parasite, there is a heavy downpour that floods the lowest parts of the neighborhood. As the Kim family returns to their basement home (known as banjiha), the rain comes flooding down to their necks and damaging all of their possessions.

Unfortunately, in this case, art imitates life and vice versa. According to the BBC, “On Monday night, two sisters in their 40s and a 13-year-old girl were found dead in their flooded semi-basement flat.”

As of Wednesday, at least 11 people were confirmed dead or missing as a result of the floods, which have gone on for three days.

— BBC

“The two women and a 13-year-old girl were trapped inside this basement flat.” | *BBC*

They had attempted to get help as the banjiha flooded, but rescuers failed to reach them in time. After the tragedy of this family of three, topics of inequality that Parasite had focused on have been brought up again.

The sister and brother in “Parasite” (left) lived in a *banjiha* in Seoul. | *CJENM (left) & BBC (right)*

Banjiha, which directly translates to half-basement, are apartment-like homes that are mostly underground, while the upper part is above ground for small window ventilation. This style of living is known for cheap rents but also poor living conditions.

After this recent horrific event, according to Yonhap, Seoul officials are to consult with the Korean government. The plan is to revise the building law so that the banjiha for residential purposes will be banned.

Underground and semi-underground housing threatens the vulnerable in all aspects…

— Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon via Yonhap

However, they will be redeemed for non-residential purposes, such as parking or storage. Owners will also be allowed 20 years to convert them into such.