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Star Trek is coming to Korea.

Well, for those who don’t really feel what that means, I’m saying that, unlike before, Star Trek is going to last more than a single day in Korean theaters, and will do what it will do around the rest of the non-Trekked world: gain a significant number of new fans. I’ve written before about how Star Trek isn’t compatible with Korean culture (although I think the new version of Battlestar Galactica would have fared nicely had it been presented and marketed properly) — whether it be in terms of Korea’s ways of dealing with otherness, or the Korean condition of being very much caught up in the trappings of modernity, as opposed to the many, decidedly post-modern concerns that Star Trek takes up: being an apologia for Western colonialism, living in a post-capitalist-yet-non-socialist utopia, or the habit of looking upon the notions of science and “progress” very, very suspiciously.

In addition, I don’t think the “cultural codes” of Korean and American culture match on the point of science fiction. When it comes to “looking to the stars” and pondering questions of morality, the definition of humanity, and other largely philosophic issues, what Clotaire Rapaille calls America’s code — “DREAMERS” — is a good match. And it’s no wonder that Westerners, especially North Americans, produce so much science fiction art, film, and literature. In Korea’s case, Dr. Rapaille hasn’t done a study in Korea, but I’d venture a guess that Korea’s code has something to do with being “SURVIVORS” or “PAIN MANAGEMENT” as something to which a lot of Korean entertainment speaks to. Case in point are the endless, seemingly mindless variety shows with famous stars hitting each other with rubber hammers and doing otherwise completely childish and silly things for laughs. It strikes me as the entertainment of complete distraction and detachment, as opposed to say the observational humor of American-style standup or situation comedies, or even the new iteration of it as found in the Seth Rogen-style. And it’s no surprise that American and Korean senses of humor are also quite divergent, if looked at in terms of said cultural codes.

Whatever the case, the main point here is that, as a movie, Star Trek rocked out with its cock out, with lively performances by a young cast that channeled all the best traits of the original characters, but with a post-Matrix, post-Lost sensibility. The action was jacked up a notch, the space sequences were less purposely grandiose and felt less like Das Boot-in-space, and the whole thing just flowed forward, with a set design that somehow managed to look original series retro, yet futuristic — I mean, it IS the 22nd century, right?

I think that, like other “SF” movies that Koreans like, people here on the peninsula will connect with the fast-moving action, editing, and breathtaking special effects. You can turn your brain off a bit more with the new Trek. However, that doesn’t mean it feels dumbed down. I think that with this strong reboot of the series, they’ll have to think of a really smart sequel to keep the momentum flowing, and not just another “evil villain with big spaceship threatens civilization” plot, which is what Treks 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10 were. Hint to screenwriters: it’s no coincidence that the best and most-loved entries by non-fans happened to be Treks 2, 4, 6, and 8 — and 4 only technically qualified as a villain, since it was man’s environmental destruction that was the real “bad guy” in 4, and 8 had the Borg. Everyone loves the Borg. “Resistance is futile.”

So that’s my big prediction: Star Trek is gonna hit Korea hard this time — with vastly increased marketing efforts cited by the representative I spoke with at the press screening — and stick to the wall for once. I think it’s also going to connect with the 30-something-and-up Koreans who actually remember the original series on TV (it was played more often, back in the day), along with the younger generation who will find Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and Chekhov either sexy or charming, or both.

Other predictions? Ladies will love the new Spock, and the boys will be making all kinds of sub-space connections with an ever-hot Uhura.

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