Beyond silent films, Korean cinema also frequently uses silence within the characters to emphasize bigger themes like societal roles and struggles. For instance, female characters are often depicted as quiet or "silenced", which reflect Korea’s traditional gender roles and patriarchal history. In The Handmaiden, Hideko’s silence symbolizes as a tool of being under control because she only speaks when told to-- often to read stories to the Japanese aristocrat men. However, from the viewers' perspective, we get to see the different points of views that show how she actually carries many inner thoughts and intellectual schemes that reveal how powerful she would be if she was not suppressed by these traditional and oppressive limitations. Similarly, in The Way Home, produced by Lee Jeong-hyang, the grandmother in the film does not speak but communicates her love and wisdom through her actions rather than her words. Her silence and other forms of expressing herself highlights the themes of sacrifice, cultural disconnection, and how actions speak louder than words.

These examples show that silence in Korean cinema is often layered with deeper meanings and intentional for a reason. They not only reflect the historical and cultural realities like colonial oppression or the tradition of silencing women, but also illustrates how actions and gestures can convey what solely words cannot. Korea has endured a very long history of being silenced— whether it was under Japanese colonization or through Western influences (ex: US soldiers and comfort women). However, through cinema, these struggles are able to be shared by capturing the resilience and power of those who find ways to express themselves despite being silenced.

Before exploring Korean cinema, I thought silence was straightforward and simple. Now, I realize that this phenomena holds complexity and significance, which is why silent films or silent characters exist in the first place. Whether chosen or forced, silence can be a powerful tool of resistance, a reflection of cultural identity, and a way to highlight societal struggles. By watching and listening to examples of silence in Korean cinema, many stories and messages suppressed throughout Korea's history are given a voice and chance to be heard- even if it is not always audible.