K-drama The Art of Sarah proves that, in Korea, luxury goods are ‘like an ID card’
Netflix’s The Art of Sarah, following a woman running a counterfeit empire, is a harsh reflection of South Korea’s luxe goods fixation
By Park Jin-hai
From the first episode, Sarah Kim (Shin) signals her ambitions visually. She carries a crocodile leather Hermès Birkin bag valued between 90 and 120 million won (US$63,000 to US$84,000) – one of the rarest bags on the market – alongside a Dior limited-edition piece, one of only 150 released worldwide in 2017. The visual language vividly sets luxury as armour, argument and identity.
The drama then rewinds to Mok Ga-hui, another of Kim’s identities, who toils endlessly at a department store luxury counter without even time for bathroom breaks until a theft leaves her saddled with 50 million won in debt.