Starring Kopinos: From Quest of the Korean Dream to the Making of a Hero: Korean Films as Commentary to Philippine Life and Issues

The term ―Kopino‖, referring to children born from Filipino unwed mothers to Korean fathers, has become popularized since the founding of Kopino Children Association, Inc. in 2005 and its wide exposure in both Korean and Philippine media in 2008. Since then, various commentaries and calls for action have been raised. The use of the term has also expanded in many ways. This phenomenon has brought into the limelight issues on multiculturalism, family values and sense of responsibility in both countries. Through examining the plight of the young KoreanFilipino characters of the films My Little Hero and Wandeugi, this paper aims to discuss issues surrounding identity and integration of the Korean-Filipino child in the context of a nation trying to advocate for multiculturalism yet still highly homogenous in the social construct of its people. In the process of looking into the cultural references in the film and their production history, we can gain insights on the power of popular culture either to educate or mislead and strengthen or impair cultural diplomacy between two nations