Parasite

No same-sex couples, queer identities, or non-binary characters appear in the film. Romantic and sexual dynamics are strictly heterosexual between the Park and Kim family members.

Women function as strategic assets or moral anchors; men are the primary agents of violence or deception. Ki-jung’s relationship with the hidden husband is portrayed as genuine, contrasting with her parents’ transactional approach. The wealthy father is passive and oblivious, while the poor father’s competence is revealed only through deception.

The cast is entirely Korean, reflecting the film’s specific Seoul setting. No non-white characters appear, and the narrative focuses on internal class dynamics rather than cross-cultural or racial interactions.

Wealth is framed as an unearned privilege that enables obliviousness, while poverty is treated as a biological stain. The vertical hierarchy of housing—hilltop versus semi-basement—serves as the central metaphor for inescapable social stratification. The film critiques the nuclear family’s role in maintaining these class boundaries.

No characters are depicted with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. The film’s focus on bodily markers relates to class (smell, hygiene) rather than impairment or disability.