Here’s how to get a job in an industry that no foreigner can enter in South Korea

The silver lining of a journey often appears in the most unexpected places.

For Bouquet Napussorn, a Thai filmmaker in South Korea and Japan, that moment of clarity came not in her home country, but in the streets of New York. It was there, during her studies abroad, that she crossed paths with a Korean filmmaker, Park Min Soo.

As their time in the city came to an end, they both went their separate ways, and Napussorn returned to Bangkok, Thailand. But fate had a second act in store. When their paths finally reconnected, that friendship became a pivotal force that opened the doors to Napussorn’s career in the Korean film industry. 

It was the type of career networking that everyone looks for. Their crossing of paths was huge, and still is, as it helped her break into one of the most competitive industries in the world, especially as a foreigner.

Napussorn is currently working as a director and filmmaker in South Korea and Japan. Source: Bouquet Napussorn

“You never know who’s going to impact your life”

Napussorn is living the life many dream of living — directing music videos for K-pop artists. However, it wasn’t easy, especially being one of the few foreign directors in the Korean entertainment industry.

In 2014, 11 years ago, YeonHap News reported that there were at least 15 foreign film directors and 100 foreign staff members in the industry. Today, the numbers are unknown, but probably still relatively low. 

Despite the low numbers, she’s making it work. 

Working in South Korea wasn’t precisely a part of Napussorn’s life plan — she was looking at countries a little closer to Thailand. 

“I was planning on leaving Thailand and moving somewhere within Asia to pursue my career in filmmaking,” she shares. 

“I didn’t want to return to the US for my career. Japan was on the list of countries I wanted to work in, but it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I looked at countries like Taiwan and Hong Kong because I am passionate about Asian cinema. Hong Kong was the goal.”

 

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It was then that Napussorn reestablished contact with Park. She confided in him and sought advice on her next move. 

“He was still studying in the US at the time, and I told him about my plans,” she says. “He then gave me an option. If I consider moving to South Korea, he’ll introduce me to friends in the filmmaking industry.” 

Park has made a name for himself in the industry, making indie music videos at the time. Today, he has collaborated with well-known K-pop artists, including NCT 127, Jaehyun (NCT Member), BoyNextDoor, WAYV, and Enhypen. 

It was a logical option. To Napussorn, it made more sense to go to a country where she knew people. And so, she made the move. 

In 2022, Napussorn packed her bags and migrated to South Korea to pursue her dream. She first attended a Korean language hagwon (academy) to learn Korean for half a year. During that time, she also networked with several filmmakers and transitioned into a working visa.

Napussorn on set for a music video. Source: Bouquet Napussorn

Hardships as one of the few foreign filmmakers in South Korea’s cutthroat industry

Napussorn is paving her way in the South Korean film industry, but not without challenges. 

The language barrier is one of the challenges she had to overcome. Despite taking a six-month intensive Korean language course, it wasn’t enough for professional work. However, she found a workaround. 

“I formed a team of bilingual speakers,” Napussorn shares. “My assistant would translate sentences I don’t understand. I do speak Korean, but it’s limited to just daily conversation. It’s hard to talk to clients or artists.” 

Another hardship is being a foreigner — not everyone wants to work with one. 

“Why would Koreans want to work with foreign directors if they already have incredibly amazing, talented local Korean directors?” Napussorn comments. “Making my work visible to clients in South Korea is difficult, and they aren’t that open to foreigners as we would like to think.” 

 

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To this day, moving to South Korea to pursue a career in filmmaking was an insane move, and that’s what many people around her think, too. 

Moving to a country where you don’t speak the language to enter an industry that’s highly cutthroat to local filmmaking professionals, let alone foreign ones. 

That’s not all; Napussorn had to get used to the South Korean system. 

“In Thailand and the US, the streamlining for directors is pretty simple, as the main director usually only talks to the director of photography, and they would then talk to the director of lighting or the gaffer,” she shares. “But in South Korea, they have a director for everything, from the director of movement to the director of acting, to the director of art, and more. It was something I had to adapt to. The way they communicate with each other is different, too.”

These challenges were turned into opportunities by Napussorn, and they helped her push her boundaries.

Napussorn with Moon Jong Up (B.A.P member) on set to film his music video of ‘TWIST YA’. Source: Bouquet Napussorn

Studying filmmaking abroad was key to career networking

Even with all the challenges, being in the industry is a dream for many. And some might say that using her connections was a cheat code for Napussorn to break into the South Korean film industry, but she herself admits that it was necessary.

“Networking is important, and it’s important in every industry, especially for filmmaking,” she says. “And most of the time, it’s more important than talent. There are so many talented people in the world, but sometimes, it’s the one who may not be as talented that gets the job — and that’s because they know how to socialise and present themselves.”

It’s a spicy take, even for me. But Napussorn has a point. 

Even several professionals I’ve spoken to in the past have admitted that networking is key. 

“Networking is inevitable, and you have to do it because it’s like pitching yourself,” says Napussorn. “Making friends is important too. You can’t afford just to stay home and hope someone will discover your talent. You have to really go out there and be like, ‘Hey, I’m a part of this community. This is who I am. Let’s collaborate.’”

She learnt all about this while studying abroad at the School of Visual Arts to pursue a BFA in Film and Video. 

“I knew producing my own work during my time at university was important, but at the end of the day, networking was key,” she says. 

Today, Napussorn has directed and produced several short films, commercials, and music videos in Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. She has even collaborated with artists such as Peder Elias, KNOMJEAN, HUNJIYA, SEYA, meinA, and Moon Jong Up (B.A.P member).