Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Entertainment

'Minari' actor nonchalant about new fame outside South Korea

12 Mar, 2021 08:44 PM4 minutes to read
Fom left, Steven Yeun, Alan S Kim, Yuh-Jung Youn, Yeri Han, and Noel Cho in a scene from "Minari". Photo / AP

Fom left, Steven Yeun, Alan S Kim, Yuh-Jung Youn, Yeri Han, and Noel Cho in a scene from "Minari". Photo / AP

Other
By Juwon Park

When Youn Yuh-jung was asked how she felt about being called the "Meryl Streep of South Korea" in a recent interview, she said she's flattered by the comparison. But she had her own introduction.

"I am just a Korean actress in Korea," 73-year-old actor said. "My name is Yuh-jung Youn. So I like to be myself."

South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung attends the press conference in Seoul, South Korea. Photo / Getty Images
South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung attends the press conference in Seoul, South Korea. Photo / Getty Images

Youn needs no introduction in South Korea; she has a film career spanning over five decades.

But she's just being discovered by audiences outside the country through "Minari," a semi-autobiographical film based on the childhood of Korean-American director Lee Isaac Chung about a family moving to rural Arkansas to start a small farm.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

IDENTITY CRISIS: South Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung, who lived in Florida decades ago, said she doesn't "fully" comprehend why Asian Americans cry after watching the film she stars in, "Minari." #미나리 pic.twitter.com/r5vFTNYLWD

— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) March 12, 2021
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Minari (@minarimovie)

Youn plays Soonja, who moves from Korea to join her daughter and step-son and develops a tender yet comical relationship with her grandson David (Alan Kim), the only member in the family born in the United States.

The film wowed at Sundance and has been a top contender during Hollywood's awards season, winning best foreign language film at the Golden Globes and scooping up six nominations at the British Film Academy Awards.

Read More

  • Grammy awards 2021: What will music's biggest night look like this year? - NZ Herald
  • Revealed: Taylor Swift, BTS, Cardi B, Billie Eilish to perform at Grammy Awards - NZ Herald
  • Secrets from inside the official Oscars after-party - NZ Herald
  • South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's Parasite wins Cannes' top prize - NZ Herald
  • 'I'm so sorry': Parasite director Bong Joon-ho apologises to trophy engravers after Oscars succ...
  • Taika Waititi acknowledges Australia's 1st Nations people ahead of filming new Thor film - NZ H...
  • Taika Waititi set to release new Star Wars film in 2025 - NZ Herald

When Oscar nominees are announced Monday, Youn is likely to be included in the supporting actress category. She's said she hasn't given much thought about scoring an award, saying it "would be something I can't and won't imagine, so I don't know... For me, an award means getting next work."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Minari (@minarimovie)

Born in 1947, she shot to fame in South Korea with her 1971 debut "Fire Woman". While at the peak of her career, she married popular singer Cho Young-nam, who convinced her to move to the US together so he could perform at pastor Billy Graham's church.

Youn said she was offered a role in a Christian film and stayed with a director in Florida for eight months to try to learn English. It didn't work out.

"The project disappeared because I couldn't speak English," she said, laughing.

Related articles

Entertainment

Armie Hammer's former girlfriend says he's scary

12 Mar 07:45 PM
Entertainment

Netflix cracks down on account sharing

12 Mar 07:27 PM
Entertainment

Benedict Cumberbatch's 'thank you' message to Kiwis

11 Mar 04:26 AM
Entertainment

Kate Winslet says Jodie Foster is her Hollywood icon

11 Mar 04:23 AM

Youn lived in the US for nearly a decade, not performing, before returning to South Korea, where she split from Cho and returned to acting.

She said the US was considered a "dream land" by Asian American immigrants in the 1970s and '80s, when "Minari" is set. But she said it's difficult for her to "fully understand" and identify with their struggles including dealing with identity crises and anti-Asian racism.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Noel Kate cho, Isaac Chung, Han Ye-ri, Steven Yeun, and Yuh-Jung Youn, from "Minari",  pose for a portrait at the Pizza Hut Lounge. Photo / Getty Images
Noel Kate cho, Isaac Chung, Han Ye-ri, Steven Yeun, and Yuh-Jung Youn, from "Minari", pose for a portrait at the Pizza Hut Lounge. Photo / Getty Images

"Second-generation Asian Americans think they are Americans but in the eyes of Americans, they don't look American," Youn said. "There must be a dilemma like that."

Youn said she was impressed by the "realistic and genuine" script from Chung, who gave her the freedom to tweak her character and dialogue, including an impromptu scene where Soonja steals a $100 donation made by her daughter from a church's honorarium plate.

The virtual table for "Minari" is seen at the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Photo / Getty Images
The virtual table for "Minari" is seen at the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Photo / Getty Images

Youn said when she suggested the scene, Chung was slightly hesitant because he's a "very devout Christian," but ended up filming it: "I really appreciated Isaac for accepting all of my suggestions."

• Minari is now screening in New Zealand.

-AP

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Premium
Entertainment

Sideswipe: Like a scarecrow, for meat robbers?

18 Aug 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Wanaka - Lights, Camera ... Studio? New technology could replace giant studios

18 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
EntertainmentUpdated

Karl Puschmann: Was Better Call Saul's finale Saul good, man?

18 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
Entertainment

Why pop's biggest stars are staying put for long residencies

18 Aug 06:00 AM
Entertainment

'Brought me to tears': Luafutu family finds redemption from state care trauma

18 Aug 03:54 AM

Most Popular

Everything we know about the children found in the suitcases
New Zealand

Everything we know about the children found in the suitcases

18 Aug 06:00 PM
Armed police respond to 'serious assault' in Otahuhu
New Zealand|CrimeUpdated

Armed police respond to 'serious assault' in Otahuhu

18 Aug 05:57 PM
Premium
Sideswipe: Like a scarecrow, for meat robbers?
Entertainment

Sideswipe: Like a scarecrow, for meat robbers?

18 Aug 05:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP