Character Analysis of Kijung: Climbing up the Social Ladder

"Jessica, only child,

Illinois Chicago,

Classmate Kim Jin-mo,

He’s your cousin."

Ki Jung, daughter of the Kim family from parasite is stated to be the only one who is most likely to make out of poverty yet she’s the one from the family who meets her bloody end.

What is it about Ki-Jung that gives us the impression that she will make it up the social hierarchy when the rest of her family are not likely to do so?

From the very beginning of the movie Ki-Jung is considered to be smart and skilled at what she does which includes even conning people. She is manipulative and has her way out with people by the way she speaks and asserts dominance, not to mention her skills in art forgery are also remarkable implying that she is set apart from the rest of her family members. It is no doubt that the Park family were also fond of Ki-Jung from the first time that they met her, she is charismatic yet assertive with what she wants, the son of the Park family who she ends up taking art therapy for, acts respectfully towards her which was amusing for the Park family members. As the movie progresses it becomes clearer that she completely fits in with the rich unlike her brother or parents. 

In contrast to her brother's interview where Mrs. Park checks if he is worthy to be a tutor or not, Ki-Jung on the other hand manages to flip the script by asserting her dominance. She's able to use the wealthy people's obsession with hierarchy which is probably another reason why she would be able to fit in among the rich. 

Poor daughters often have a better shot at climbing up the social ladder when compared to poor sons, there is always this dilemma that if a daughter is born in a poor family, they will be destined to marry someone who could provide not only for them but also for the family. Thus, daughters often are regarded as the breadwinners in a poor family. Undoubtedly the Kim family place all of their hopes on Ki-Jung since she is witty and determined with her work however, she is the one killed off in the family which is absolutely tragic because the only chance for the Kim Family to move up the social ladder gets destroyed. Perhaps Ki-Jung's death is a metaphor for the people that try to move up the social ladder are then dragged back to poverty by debt, mismanagement, or straight up sabotage due to envy.

Calm, Composed and Poised are the three words I would use to describe Ki-Jung the best.