Lee Yu Mi, the first Korean actor to win a Creative Arts Emmy, talks to us about the massive popularity of the squid game and his upcoming projects
Lee Yu Mi, the first Korean actor to win a Creative Arts Emmy, talks to us squid gameThe huge popularity of, and his upcoming projects
“I had no hope of winning this award in my wildest dreams,” says the cheerful Li Yu Mi as she became First Korean actor to win Creative Arts Emmy For Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Netflix’s mega-popular Survivor Series squid game earlier this month.
to talk The Hindu Weekend On her big win, the 28-year-old actress admitted that she was too shocked to react when her name was announced. “I really didn’t know what to say and how to react. What I felt was raw joy.”
character study
squid game History was made at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, receiving six top honors in major categories, the first for a foreign language series. Producer Hwang Dong-hyuk won Outstanding Director and Actor Lee Jung Jae for Best Actor in a Drama Series, making him the first Asian to win the award in the above categories.
Lee Yu Mi with his Creative Arts Emmy Award
Lee Yu Mi rose to prominence for his portrayal of Ji-yong aka Player No. 240, who opts to fall for Sai-byeok/Player No. 67 (Ho Yeon Jung) in the final round of the Deadly Squid game. Is. The young actor didn’t have much screen time, but his sensitive representation of Ji-yong, a young girl with a dark past, left a lasting impression.
“I tried to find hints of her character in her backstory (the murder of her abusive stepfather and serving time in prison) and put myself in her shoes to better understand who she is. She needs to be a good or a bad person. Instead of being labeled as such, I felt that she was shaped by her experiences and that is probably why she made the impact she did,” says the actor.
korean wave
with season 2 squid gameIn the works, she admits to being curious like everyone else about where the story is going. Lee Yu Mi recalls being amazed by the original and imaginative world director Hwang created in Season 1. “I was amazed by his sight and how entertaining the premise was. I’m sure season 2 will be very entertaining as well.”
A scene from ‘Squid Game’
squid gameThe popularity of South Korean content is testament to the global appeal, which has seen a rapid rise in viewing charts, on streaming platforms, as well as driving conversations on social media. As K-pop and K-drama develop into a thriving genre on the global mainstream entertainment stage, Lee Yu Mi acknowledges that this is a thriving time for South Korean artists. within weeks of squid gameFollowing its release, the actor increased his own social media presence on Instagram from 40,000 to 5 million, bringing him into international limelight.
beyond squid game
The show isn’t the only hit to his acting credits. Playing the role of the arrogant rich girl Na Yeon, who scares her classmates in the super hit high school zombie apocalypse thriller we are all dead (Season 1), she received critical acclaim.
Though his easy-going off-screen personality is in stark contrast to the intense and detached characters he plays on screen, his approach is fairly straightforward. “There are stories that touch my heart and if I like the character and their feel, then I am in it. The pressure to do well motivates me, whatever the project or part. I personally don’t get swayed by intense roles,” says the actor, who is currently filming for the ongoing sports drama, psychic coach jiggleWhere she plays the role of a once successful athlete facing a career slump.
So will her character rise from the dead in Season 2? we are all dead, Li Yu Mi says that he is as excited about the upcoming season as anyone else. Several projects are underway, including a sequel to the 2017 hit drama Strong Girl Bong-soon, titled Strong Woman Kang Nam SoonWhich will see the actor with impressive super powers, Lee Yu Mi says he is currently rooting for his character Ga Eel Psychic coach Jegel.