Arum’s parents are part of the proud 386 generation*, which played a significant role in achieving democratization in South Korea. Eager to pass on a better world to Arum, her father became a public servant, and her mother, a feminist activist. However, at the age of 18, she came face to face with the Sewol ferry disaster, which left numerous victims due to the malfunctioning national system. To her dismay, even Arum’s father was involved in managing the aftermath of the accident, prompting her to question the democracy crafted by the previous generation. Navigating through Korean political history via her family’s journey, Arum reflects on her generation’s role, spanning from the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster to the impeachment, #MeToo movement, and the 2022 presidential election.
*The “386 generation” refers to South Koreans who were born in the 1960s, studied in the 1980s and became highly politically active, particularly in the fight for democracy and social justice. The term alludes to the latest computer model at the time, the Intel 386.
Arum Nam, born in 1995, is a documentary director based in Seoul, South Korea, currently pursuing a master’s degree in documentary at the Korea National University of Arts. She directed a short documentary called FEMI, which tells the story of a feminist mother, and co-directed TELEPORTING with Japanese directors during the pandemic. K-FAMILY AFFAIRS is her first feature documentary.
