Parasite Plot: What Is the Story About? (No Spoilers)
In a cramped semi-basement home in Seoul, the Kim family scrapes by with no steady work. Father Kim Ki-taek, mother Chung-sook, son Ki-woo and daughter Ki-jung are all unemployed, folding pizza boxes and chasing free Wi-Fi just to get through the day.
Across the city lives the Park family, wealthy and polished. Businessman Park Dong-ik and his wife Yeon-kyo raise their children, Da-hye and young Da-song, in a sleek modern house with a household staff to match. When an opening appears, the Kims see a chance to change their luck. One by one, and with more confidence than credentials, they work their way into the Parks’ lives as employees, each one hiding who they really are.
What starts as a clever con quickly becomes a balancing act. The Kims must keep their stories straight, stay a step ahead of their employers and protect the comfortable life they are slowly building inside someone else’s home. The film’s tagline, “Act like you own the place,” sums up their audacity. How long that act can last is the question that drives this tense, darkly funny story about two families living worlds apart.

What Makes Parasite Notable: Director, Cast and Genre
Director and writers: Parasite (original Korean title: 기생충) is directed by Bong Joon Ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won. It was produced in South Korea by Barunson E&A.
Cast: The ensemble is led by Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, alongside Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik and Cho Yeo-jeong as Yeon-kyo. Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam play the Kim siblings Ki-woo and Ki-jung, while Jang Hye-jin plays Chung-sook. Lee Jung-eun (Moon-gwang), Park Myung-hoon (Geun-se), Jung Zi-so (Da-hye) and Jung Hyeon-jun (Da-song) round out the main cast.
Genre and themes: The film blends comedy, thriller and drama, moving between sharp satire and psychological suspense. At its core it is social commentary on class differences, unemployment and the gap between the working class and the very rich, told through two families under one roof.
Parasite review and reception: If you are looking for a review, audience response gives a useful snapshot. On TMDB the film holds an average audience rating of 8.5 out of 10 from more than 21,500 votes, placing it among the platform’s most highly rated titles.
Details: The runtime is 133 minutes (about 2 hours 13 minutes). The dialogue is mostly in Korean, with some English and German.
Who Will Enjoy Parasite?
- Fans of K-dramas and Korean cinema who want a story with bite and a strong ensemble cast
- Viewers who like dark comedy mixed with real suspense
- Anyone drawn to stories about family, money and the divide between rich and poor
- Thriller fans who enjoy watching a scheme unfold and wondering when it might crack
- Film lovers curious about the work of director Bong Joon Ho
Parasite Release Date in the Philippines and Where to Watch
Release date in the Philippines: Parasite opened in Philippine cinemas on August 14, 2019. Its first release worldwide was on May 30, 2019. No local MTRCB classification is listed in our data.
Where to watch in the Philippines: No streaming platform is currently listed for the Philippines. Availability changes often, so check the streaming and digital rental services you use locally for the latest options. An official trailer is available if you want a preview before you watch.
Trailer
Cast
Song Kang-hoas Kim Ki-taekSee credits →
Lee Sun-kyunas Park Dong-ikSee credits →
Cho Yeo-jeongas Yeon-kyoSee credits →
Choi Woo-shikas Ki-wooSee credits →
Park So-damas Ki-jung
Lee Jung-eunas Moon-gwangSee credits →
Jang Hye-jinas Chung-sookSee credits →
Park Myung-hoonas Geun-se
Photo: TMDB
FAQ
- When was Parasite released in the Philippines?
- Parasite opened in Philippine cinemas on August 14, 2019. Its first release worldwide was on May 30, 2019.
- Where can I watch Parasite in the Philippines?
- No streaming platform is currently listed for the Philippines. Availability changes often, so check the streaming and digital rental services you use for the latest options.
- Who is in the cast of Parasite?
- The film stars Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik, Cho Yeo-jeong as Yeon-kyo, Choi Woo-shik as Ki-woo, Park So-dam as Ki-jung and Jang Hye-jin as Chung-sook. Lee Jung-eun, Park Myung-hoon, Jung Zi-so and Jung Hyeon-jun round out the main cast.
- What is Parasite about?
- An unemployed family in Seoul finds a way to work for a wealthy household, hiding their true identities as they settle into their employers' lives. The film is a dark comedy thriller about class and survival.
- How long is Parasite?
- Parasite runs 133 minutes, about 2 hours and 13 minutes.

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