Bong Joon-ho Photo: IC

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's movie Parasite beat out Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time in Hollywood to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Films Festival on Sunday, the first South Korean winner in the Festival's history.

Parasite focuses on the story of a poor four-member-family that wins the trust of a rich family and moves into their mansion. The movie is filled with black humor and was spoken highly of by audiences and judges at the festival.

Parasite's success has drawn the attention of the world to Asian movies. In recent years, Asian films have gained in popularity in the international film arena with touching stories and captivating cinematography.

At the 2018 Cannes Films Festival, Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda's Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or. Both films focus on the lives of the lower class of society.

Chinese director Diao Yinan's movie The Wild Goose Lake was also screened at the festival. While it missed out on the top prize, the film also gave hope to Chinese movie fans.

In 2018, South Korean director Lee Chang-dong's Burning was also selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. Netizens on Douban commented that South Korean films have brought a special flavor to the international films festival.