Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Journey of Filipino Extras in Hallyuwood

Abstract: This study examines the lived experiences of Filipino extras in South Korea’s entertainment industry using cultural capital and sociology of work as frameworks. Based on semi-structured interviews with 10 participants and thematic analysis, I explore how they navigate cultural adaptation, professional relationships, labor conditions, and personal insights. While contributing to the global appeal of Korean media, foreign extras experience structural marginalization, limited roles, and job precarity. They draw on embodied and social cultural capital, such as language skills and peer networks, to sustain work in a competitive industry. Community support emerges as vital to overcoming systemic barriers, while symbolic visibility offers aspirational value despite limited career mobility. Most view extra work as temporary, constrained by casting hierarchies. The study advocates for more inclusive labor practices and the recognition of foreign contributions, arguing that their presence not only enhances realism but also reflects the ethical dimensions of South Korea’s increasingly globalized media landscape.