Kim Min-ha, whom no one knew about, has a global presence through ‘Pachinko’

His first starring role was Apple TV+'s 'Pachinko', which was released globally. She played the role of Yoon Yeo-jeong in her younger days and surprised the world with her fresh face. Rather, there are more people in the country who do not know. This is the story of actress Kim Min-ha. Co-star Lee Min-ho praised Kim Min-ha's acting as 'wild'.

Minha Kim will attend the 28th Critics' Choice Awards held in Los Angeles, USA on the 15th (local time). This is because the lead film Apple TV+'s 'Pachinko' was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Series Award. ‘Weird Lawyer Woo Young-woo’ starring Park Eun-bin is also selected as a candidate in this category and will compete. Last year, ‘Squid Game’ was the winner in this category.

'Pachinko' is an epic drama that depicts Korea's modern and contemporary history from the 1910s to the 1980s through the turbulent story of the first Korean family who traveled between Korea, Japan, and the United States. Minha Kim played the younger version of the main character, Seonja. Seon-ja, who was born into a poor family in Yeongdo, Busan, became pregnant with the child of the man she loved, Han-soo (Lee Min-ho), but did not marry him after finding out that he was married. Seonja marries a pastor (played by Isaac Lee) who was a guest at the boarding house he ran with his mother, and then moves to Japan.

Kim Min-ha debuted in a web drama in 2016 and appeared in supporting roles in 'School 2017' and 'Partners for Justice'. It surprised everyone that the main character of the blockbuster movie, which cost about 100 billion won on Apple TV+, was a rookie actor whose name was unknown in Korea. However, those who have seen ‘Pachinko’ will understand Kim Min-ha’s casting.

The wise man lives a difficult life in a turbulent era. Minha Kim powerfully portrayed the image of a mother, wife, and woman. By exquisitely going back and forth between softness and strength, he portrayed a character who does not lose hope and does not give up.

Regarding the love scene between Lee Min-ho and 'Pachinko', Kim Min-ha said in an interview, "It was short but intense. I poured a lot of emotions and thoughts into it. It was intense because it was a scene that showed many things beyond the emotion of love." Lee Min-ho said after auditioning for chemistry with Kim Min-ha, "It was the first time I saw Kim Min-ha and I felt like she was a good person. I think we've been together three or four times, and I was surprised and had a good memory when I saw her acting wildly, just as I felt at the time."

Kim Min-ha auditioned nine times before being cast in ‘Pachinko.’ He also appeared on tvN's entertainment show 'House on Wheels 4' and told the story behind the audition. Minha Kim said, "The first was a self-tape. I took a video and sent it. The second audition was an online audition via Zoom, and the third was also an online audition. The fourth was an online interview." He continued, "The 5th round was a chemistry reading. I was looking at 'chemistry' with the male lead, and I did this twice. The 8th round was a chemistry audition with another lead. After that, I met the director after 9 rounds." He also surprised everyone by saying, "I only auditioned for four months. It was an audition I'd never done before, but honestly, it was fun. I thought, 'What should I talk about today?' The lines all resonated with me. I didn't have any regrets during the four months." did.

Minha Kim also became a hot topic for her fluent English skills. He was captured conducting interviews with foreign media. The secret was my mother’s passion for education. Kim Min-ha said, "I have been going to an English academy and tutoring since I was in kindergarten. I hated it and had a hard time at that time. I crashed once. I squeaked in the bathroom of the English academy. I was so scared that I had to take an English test when I went back in, so I cried and cried in the bathroom. “I have studied,” he said.

'Pachinko' was selected as the best work of 2022 by major foreign media. At the 32nd Gotham Awards held in New York, USA in November last year, Kim Min-ha won the 'Outstanding Performance in a New Series' award, also known as the best acting award. )' was also selected as a candidate. Although she did not receive the award, Kim Min-ha was first recognized overseas.

The Critics' Choice Awards, which Minha Kim is attending this time, is an award that the Critics' Choice Association (CCA), the largest critics' organization in North America, including the United States and Canada, evaluates the work of broadcasts and movies and the acting skills of the actors. Attention is focused on whether Kim Min-ha's first leading role, which features soft and strong acting, will be honored with an award.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr