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Tag: Lee Jung-jae

  • Lee Jung-Jae becomes first Asian actor to win Emmy for Squid Game

    By Express News Service

    Actor Lee Jung-Jae, who received worldwide recognition for his lead role in the Korean series Squid Game, became the first Asian actor to win an Emmy award in Best Actor in the drama category.

    It is to be noted that Lee is only the fourth Asian actor ever to win an Emmy award and also becomes the first to receive a drama award for the non-English speaking category.

    Others who were nominated alongside Lee were Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul, Jason Bateman for Ozark, Adam Scott for Severance, and Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for Succession. Upon receiving the award, Lee gave an acceptance speech both in English and Korean.

    “Thank you to the Television Academy, thank you to Netflix and thank you to the director for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script. Thank you, ‘ Squid Game’ team. Thank you to everyone watching in Korea,” Variety quoted Lee. Squid Game premiered on Netflix in September 2021, and has been renewed for a second season after it was received well among audiences across the world.

    The series earned 14 nominations and won six out of them. Lee You-mi won the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, while it was also recognised under the categories Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Outstanding Stunt Performance, and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program.

    Actor Lee Jung-Jae, who received worldwide recognition for his lead role in the Korean series Squid Game, became the first Asian actor to win an Emmy award in Best Actor in the drama category.

    It is to be noted that Lee is only the fourth Asian actor ever to win an Emmy award and also becomes the first to receive a drama award for the non-English speaking category.

    Others who were nominated alongside Lee were Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul, Jason Bateman for Ozark, Adam Scott for Severance, and Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for Succession. Upon receiving the award, Lee gave an acceptance speech both in English and Korean.

    “Thank you to the Television Academy, thank you to Netflix and thank you to the director for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script. Thank you, ‘ Squid Game’ team. Thank you to everyone watching in Korea,” Variety quoted Lee. Squid Game premiered on Netflix in September 2021, and has been renewed for a second season after it was received well among audiences across the world.

    The series earned 14 nominations and won six out of them. Lee You-mi won the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, while it was also recognised under the categories Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Outstanding Stunt Performance, and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program.

  • Netflix’s Korean series ‘Squid Games’ makes history for non-English series with 14 Emmy nominations

    By Express News Service

    Making history, Netflix’s Korean series Squid Games became the first ever non-English series to be nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy 2022. The show bagged 14 nominations for the awards, including for the category of Outstanding Drama Series. 

    The series’ lead actor Lee Jung-Jae is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in the drama series, while Jung Ho-Yeon, who made her acting debut with the series, is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in the drama series. Actors Park Hae-soo and Oh Yeong-su are also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a drama series category.

    “First, I would like to share my sincere gratitude. It is a tremendous honour to be nominated together with these brilliant actors. I would like to share this honour with the Squid Game fans around the world, who showed us endless love and support, and the Squid Game team, who worked very hard to make everything possible,” said Lee Jung-Jae.

    Squid Games creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is nominated for writing and directing categories. Set in a dystopian economic environment of Korea, Squid Games acquired worldwide success. Netflix recently announced that the series will be back for the second season, with a mix of old and new characters.

  • ‘Squid Game’ creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk expresses joy on show’s Screen Actors Guild nominations

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk says it is the “happiest moment” of his career to see his Netflix show’s receive four nominations at the 28th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.

    The Korean language show bagged nominations in the television categories for best drama ensemble, best stunt ensemble, best actor for Lee Jung-jae and best female actor for Jung Ho-yeon. The survival drama series was one of the biggest shows from the streaming service last year.

    It clocked over 100 million views in less than a month of its debut in September 2021. “As the director of ‘Squid Game’, today has to be the happiest moment. I am reminded of all the days spent on first meetings with the cast, the auditions, visiting theaters to see their performances, the script readings, rehearsals and the days on set… I want to truly thank not only the cast who have been nominated today but also all of the supporting and the near-300 background talent. ‘Squid Game’ would never have been what it became without the devotion and hard work of every single one of you. You deserve all the glory and credit,” Hwang said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

    The nine-part show follows 456 people struggling with debt in Seoul who sign on to play a series of deadly competitions based on Korean children’s games, the winner of which will receive 45.6 billion won (USD 38 million).

    It featured Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-jun, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung. Lee Jung-jae, who played the show’s protagonist Seong Gi-hun or player number 456, said he was “speechless and beyond excited” to be nominated for a SAG Award.

    “I vividly remember the precious moments we shared together, putting in all the hard work to film the intense six rounds of games. On top of the unforgettable memories we shared, today’s SAG Awards nominations will forever be remembered as a precious and touching moment. Thank you so much to the members of SAG-AFTRA. I am also so humbled and want to share this moment with all the fans of Squid Game who have faith in justice and love, we as people cherish,” the poplar actor said.

    In best actor (drama) category, Lee Jung-jae is nominated alongside “Succession” stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and “The Morning Show” actor Billy Cudrup. Jung Ho-yeon, who played Player 067 Kang Sae-byeok, said she is “truly grateful” for her nomination.

    “I am truly excited for the best ensemble nomination, which has made all of our team’s time spent together on ‘Squid Game’ even more valuable. Working on this series, and acting for the first time, I thought about how creating something ‘together,’ and ‘as an ensemble’ just might be the true value of our society. I feel empowered to be reminded of how ‘together’ is more precious than a solo achievement. I am truly grateful! I’m also reminded of our best stunt team, being nominated for the best stunt ensemble nomination,” she said.

    Jung Ho-yeon also sent her best wishes to fellow nominees — Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston of “The Morning Show”, Sarah Snook of “Succession” and Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale”. The 2022 ceremony of Screen Actors Guild Awards will be held on February 28.

  • ‘Squid Game’ star Lee Jung-jae to skip 2022 Golden Globes ceremony

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: South Korean star Lee Jung-jae, who is nominated for the best actor in TV drama Golden Globe for the hit Netflix series “Squid Game”, will not attend the awards ceremony scheduled to be held in the US on January 9.

    According to Korean media outlet Soompi, Lee’s agency, Artist Company, on Wednesday issued a statement announcing the news.

    “He is immensely grateful to have been nominated in the Best Actor category at the Golden Globes, but he has decided not to attend the ceremony. He recognises that Netflix is not participating in the Golden Globes, as has been widely reported around the world,” the agency said on Lee’s behalf.

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which conducts the Golden Globes, came under public scrutiny over its racially homogenous makeup, as well as alleged corruption following a bombshell Los Angeles Times investigation in early 2021.

    Top Hollywood stars, including Tom Cruise, and many big companies have publicly boycotted the awards show.

    Lee’s agency further said factors like the Covid-19 situation and the quarantine requirements also contributed to the actor pulling out from the event.

    The 49-year-old actor, a massive star in native South Korea courtesy of K-dramas like “Chief of Staff” and films “Along With the Gods” series, “The Face Reader” and “The Housemaid”, gained international prominence following the debut of “Squid Game” on September 17, 2021.

    Lee, who played Seong Gi-hun aka player 456 who emerges winner by the end of the show, is nominated alongside Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong (“Succession”), Billy Porter (“Pose”), and Omar Sy (“Lupin”) in the best performance by an actor in a television series – drama category at the Globes.

    As per Netflix, “Squid Game” became its “biggest series launch” till date after the Korean language survival drama hit the mark of 111 million views in less than a month since its debut.

    O Yeong-su, who essayed the elderly player no 001 in “Squid Game”, has also earned a Golden Globe nod in the best supporting actor – television category.

    Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series is nominated for best television series – drama as well. Hwang recently said that “Squid Game” will return for a second season and a potential third chapter. Netflix is yet to officially greenlight either of the seasons.