The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS stars shine brighter as solo artists

  • 3

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 5

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 7

    ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first

  • 9

    Korea urged to adopt China exit strategy amid hegemonic war

  • 11

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 13

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 15

    Foreign ministry asks Japan to investigate case of Korean poisoned with bleach in Tokyo

  • 17

    Lamborghini driver suspect sent to prosecutors over parking dispute in Gangnam

  • 19

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 2

    '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance

  • 4

    North Korean escapees tell how nuclear tests ruined their health, hometown

  • 6

    Rowoon leaves SF9 to focus on acting career

  • 8

    USFK soldier, 2 women arrested for drug trafficking

  • 10

    Seventeen to drop 11th EP next month

  • 12

    Netflix's 'Song of the Bandits' blends western action with Korean period series

  • 14

    INTERVIEWPutin uses summit with NK leader to stop Seoul from helping Ukraine: expert

  • 16

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 18

    Unfreezing of funds not likely to restore Korea-Iran ties

  • 20

    Merck emphasizes digitalization in semiconductor market

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Fri, September 22, 2023 | 23:49
People & Events
Mexican filmmaker zooms in on descendants of Korean immigrants
Posted : 2022-09-15 12:37
Updated : 2022-09-16 20:51
Lee Hae-rin
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Mexican filmmaker Melissa Mondragon, left, poses with Gabriel Yu, a fifth-generation Korean Mexican who starred in her documentary film, 'Descendientes,' before the movie screening at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City, Sept. 10. Courtesy of Melissa Mondragon
Mexican filmmaker Melissa Mondragon, left, poses with Gabriel Yu, a fifth-generation Korean Mexican who starred in her documentary film, "Descendientes," before the movie screening at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City, Sept. 10. Courtesy of Melissa Mondragon

By Lee Hae-rin

A Mexican filmmaker has made a short documentary film portraying the descendants of Korean immigrants who settled in Mexico in 1905. The film screened at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City with an audience of over 100 people, Sept. 10.

Melissa Mondragon, 23, who majored in cinematography at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM) and directed the short documentary, "Descendientes," which in Spanish means, "descendants," as her first film, said her work is about "love for perseverance, love for your family and love for who you are," in a recent written interview with The Korea Times.

The 23-minute documentary features the stories of eight Korean Mexicans who have cherished their identities and overcome hardships and existential challenges to grow to blend into the Mexican community.

"The interviewees are descendants of the Korean patriots who financially supported their homeland's independence movement," Mondragon said, explaining that the first generation of Korean settlement in her country sought to preserve their history and acknowledge their ancestors by supporting Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.

Mondragon said she was shocked to find out the history of Korean settlement in her country while making the film because it was never taught at school. She said she wanted to "compensate for the damage" that Korean immigrants had gone through while settling there, recognize the Korean community in Mexico and apologize by making the movie.

In April 1905, 1,033 Koreans sailed to Mexico for over 40 days and settled in the country. Most of them worked on farms as undocumented laborers and could not return to their home country or receive legal protections in the early years of their settlement, as there were no diplomatic ties between the two countries at the time.

Mexican filmmaker Melissa Mondragon, left, poses with Gabriel Yu, a fifth-generation Korean Mexican who starred in her documentary film, 'Descendientes,' before the movie screening at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City, Sept. 10. Courtesy of Melissa Mondragon
Korean Mexican Gabriel Yu, who now heads the Association of Korean Descendants in Mexico City, stars in Melissa Mondragon's documentary film, "Descendientes." Courtesy of Melissa Mondragon

One of the interviewees in Mondragon's movie, Gabriel Yu, is one such fifth―generation Korean Mexican whose ancestors were Koreans who supported the independence movement in their early days living in Mexico. Yu now heads the Association of Korean Descendants in Mexico City and works on promoting Korean language and culture with fellow Korean Mexicans.

The director said the driving force behind the making of the authentic film was Mexicans' love for Korean culture.

Mondragon fell in love with Korean culture at the age of 10. Starting with Girls Generation, K-pop was a "great inspiration," and later became her motivation to explore Korea's culture and history. She said the love for K-culture is prevalent in her household as her parents are also a fan of Korean dramas, movies and artists, and she is learning the Korean language in preparation for a future visit

The film was also sponsored by "Promesas MINOZ ARMY," the Mexican fan club for K-pop giant BTS and actor Lee Min-ho. The group said it participated in the project to encourage active cultural exchange between the two countries.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korean and Mexico this year, Mondragon said she wishes to see more collaboration between the two countries, naming previous works jointly made by K-pop group Super Junior and Mexican rock band Reik, as well as the activities of Mexican TV personality Christian Burgos living in Korea.


Emaillhr@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
130 people purchased 8,000 homes: data 30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data
2Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlightScientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
3National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chiefNational Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief
4Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
5Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion
6Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea
7Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China
8S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China
9Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany
10COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022 COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse' BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'
2Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25 Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25
3Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman'
4BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
5[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group