SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korean people and media on Monday hailed "Parasite" as the black comedy thriller picked up four awards, including best picture, at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, or Oscars.
"Parasite" won Best Picture at the ceremony, becoming the first non-English language film in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards, and the first South Korean film, to win the top prize at the Oscars.
The genre-bending class thriller also swept Best Director for Bong Joon-ho, Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay.
Yonhap news agency reported that "Parasite" of director Bong Joon-ho made new history in the South Korean film industry as well as at the Oscars.
"Parasite" crashed through the barrier of subtitles and the longstanding tradition of the Oscars, Yonhap noted.
After winning best foreign language film at this year's Golden Globes Awards, the South Korean director said, "Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."
Bong became the second filmmaker to nab the top honor both at the Cannes and the Oscars for the same film.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent his congratulatory message through his social media account, saying "I am proud of director Bong Joon-ho, the actors and crew. I am especially grateful to them for instilling pride and courage in our people as we come together to weather difficulties."
"Parasite has moved the hearts of people around the world with a most uniquely (South) Korean story... An amusing yet sad movie, Parasite also conveys social messages in a novel, outstanding and successful way," said Moon.
"Parasite" is an adroitly-written, contemporary film on the weighty subject of class warfare that follows the members of a poor household scheming to become employees of a much wealthier family by posing as unrelated, highly-qualified individuals.
On social media, netizens greeted the Oscars awards. One netizen said, "I'm in tears when I watched. I'm very proud of it. Can there be any better way to make known the (South) Korean culture to the world (than Parasite)?"
Another netizen made relatively negative comments on it, saying South Korea's deeply-rooted social inequality was made known to the world through the film.
Some of local flick experts forecast that the success of "Parasite" may open up opportunities in Hollywood for Bong as well as other South Korean filmmakers, actors and actresses.
