The Ethics of Inequality in Parasite

This article examines Parasite (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho, as a philosophical exploration of how morality deteriorates under conditions of deep social inequality. Through the contrasting lives of the impoverished Kim family and the wealthy Park family, the film reveals how ethical judgment is shaped by class, survival, and privilege. Drawing on utilitarianism and moral relativism, the article argues that while the Kims’ deception may initially seem defensible as a means of survival, the film exposes the limits of outcome-based ethics in a society where happiness is not equally valued. At the same time, moral relativism helps explain the context-driven nature of the characters’ choices but risks excusing systemic injustice. Rather than presenting clear moral heroes or villains, Parasite portrays ethical compromise as a structural consequence of inequality itself, suggesting that morality cannot be sustained without justice, and that in an unjust world, even ordinary human desires for dignity and goodness can turn destructive.