[Drama 2022] Pachinko, 파친코 - Lee Min Ho, Youn Yuh Jung, Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, Minha Kim, Soji Arai, Kaho Minami - Streaming on Apple TV+ | Season 1 & 2

[syntyche]

The amazing treatment Apple gave to Lee Min-ho the day before filming bed scenes in “Pachinko”

 

Lee Min-ho said that he was surprised at the amount Apple invested (more than 100 billion won) when filming “Pachinko”.

In particular, he was surprised by the size of the set. In Canada, there was a set that reproduced the Korean fish market during the Japanese colonial era. Watching several 1.5-ton trucks loaded with fresh seafood in the morning, he realized the details and scale of this work.

 

Lee Min-ho confessed that the moment that impressed him the most was not the scale, but the detailed work method for the cast’s acting. The day before kiss scenes or bed scenes were filmed, a psychologist came and interviewed actors in person to give them advice on their current emotional and psychological conditions. Such a detailed approach is said to have been of great help to their acting.

 

https://kbizoom.com/the-amazing-treatment-apple-gave-to-lee-min-ho-the-day-before-filming-bed-scenes-in-pachinko/

[CallieP]

19 hours ago, syntyche said:

I was actually planning on that already. Maybe both questions? Or a question about whether we're interested to watch upcoming seasons if confirmed, but that may already be a given 

 

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@nrllee i love your insights! Thanks for highligting why the two men are drawn into Sunja. And how the singer's brief encounter with Sunja became a defining moment for her. 

Please do share your other insights on the previous and upcoming episodes 

 yes, I love the scene with the singer singing the lament and the Korean migrants below feeling so much nationalism and pride when listening to the familiar song.  It was a powerful moment.  One rebellious act against the rulers.

Really excited to watch Episode 7.

Interesting that Shim Wan has read script for 2nd episode with scenes of Hansu but if it is going to be minimal, I don't know if I want LMH to be restricted to doing nothing else for another 2 whole years.  If he is also Noa... then perhaps, a dual role.   It is female centric and Sunja is the main focus.

[syntyche]

Chapter 7 changes everything you thought you knew about Hansu. 

cr: bluemarblepics IG

 

 

 

 

 

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@CallieP i thought Apple would be strict and wouldnt let him announce his next work until after Pachinko season 1 has ended its release. But he was able to announce Ask the Stars well within the first of week of release. If his scenes in season 2 are minimal, then maybe they should just allow him to do other work, so that Pachinko becomes a side hustle of some sort. It's a waste to lock him up again for another 2 years 

 

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Episode 7 now available! 

 

[CallieP]

deleted

58 minutes ago, syntyche said:

 

 

@CallieP i thought Apple would be strict and wouldnt let him announce his next work until after Pachinko season 1 has ended its release. But he was able to announce Ask the Stars well within the first of week of release. If his scenes in season 2 are minimal, then maybe they should just allow him to do other work, so that Pachinko becomes a side hustle of some sort. It's a waste to lock him up again for another 2 years 

 

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Exactly,  he is not getting younger, if he does a drama or movie or both a year and this is additional, then I do not mind but 2 years for total of less than 1 1/2 to 2 hours of screen time and not the lead, NO.  We already waited too long for Pachinko season 1  even though it was a great opportunity but not to be stuck in it.  If it was like LJJ in Squid Games, that is another matter. At least he has Chapter 7 but it is a small consolation.  ATS has 20 episodes, I think. Pachinko is a great series but I really wanted more screen time for Hansu.

[CarolynH]

21 hours ago, syntyche said:

I was actually planning on that already. Maybe both questions? Or a question about whether we're interested to watch upcoming seasons if confirmed, but that may already be a given 

Both questions sounds good.  Anyone else have other suggestions for a poll?

[backstreetboysfan]

 

[nina_mitrokhina]

Hansoo: Pachinko villain celebrates Lee Min Ho before and after

 

 

Mafer Sosa
APRIL 21, 2022

 

Hansoo is a Pachinko villain who shows a new side of Lee Min Ho that could change his career.

The penultimate episode of "Pachinko" reveals the secrets of Lee Min Ho's character. Not only does this show Hansoo's past, but we also see the K-drama king's acting growth in a new aspect.

 

"Lee Min Ho revela el secreto del éxito de los Kdramas | ENTREVISTA " in YouTube

 

 

 

Ever since Lee Min Ho accepted the role of Hansoo, expectations have grown to see him as a villain. For the most part, the actor plays the roles of "nice" guys, divas, and rich guys who are the main stars of his Korean dramas.

Pachinko is not a love story. They don't suggest that it revolves around Lee Min Ho's character, but how each character changes due to the historical context they lived in. And how each experience left a mark on their lives.

 

Hansoo's past with his father

 

As for Hansu, he was changed by the Japanese occupation, injustice and poverty.

At this point, we can see Lee Min Ho as Hansoo in the traditional attire of the time, as well as a different personality from the beginning. We see a dreamy Hansoo who enjoys beading abacus and being a tutor.

Although his economic situation was not the best, his father was everything to him. Even this one always wanted to see someone great in him, even if it meant parting ways. Thus, Min Ho demonstrates unconditional love for his father in this role.

Even in the scene where he gets beat up by his father, he doesn't care as his priority is his father.

Min Ho's facial expressions at the sight of his little family suffering from debt are so intense that you can't help but want to help them.

 

Kanto earthquake, Hansu trials begin

 

Hansu's life-changing event occurs during the Kanto, Japan earthquake in September 1923. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that completely destroyed cities like Yokohama.

The Great Kanto Earthquake ignited hatred against Koreans because, according to the Japanese writer Akira Yoshimura in his short story "The Great Kanto Earthquake"; Rumors that the Koreans were taking advantage of the situation to rob, poison, and kill the Japanese led to poaching.

As Hansoo tries to get through the disaster, he also has to look back and come to terms with the fact that everything he planned for his future with his father has changed. This is where we see Lee Min Ho in a way we've never seen him before.

Sinister, along with the fires and dust cloud around him, makes him feel desperate. Lee Min Ho shows a distraught Hansoo who wants to throw himself into his father's arms, who is lost, doesn't know what to do, who just wants to be somewhere else.

 

What is the difference between Hansoo the villain of Pachinko and Lee Min Ho's other characters?

 

Although he is the first villain to be played by Lee Min-ho, unlike his other characters who have the behavior of spoiled children who often have problems with their mothers.

Pachinko demands that Hansoo be the villain to step on others before they step on him.

His cruelty stems from injustice, from the inhumanity that people showed in the face of another's misfortune, from the need to be the one who has power, so as not to be humiliated again for having nothing or for his origin.

Hansoo stands out from Lee Min Ho's other characters, his backstory shows part of South Korea's history of pain. While the rest of his characters are usually rom-com oriented, that doesn't make them any less important.

But with Hansoo, Lee Min Ho plays a character that shows the maturity of a boy who has lived through everything and never learned to be loved or love as it meant being vulnerable.

Also, you can see how Min Ho is different from his other characters in which he was presented as a "rich boy".

The South Korean actor is showing a new facet that fans, and even those who aren't, will be surprised by his performance and the evolution of his character.

Hansoo, the villain from Pachinko, will be celebrating before and after in Lee Min Ho's career.

 

Translation from spanish google
https://kmagazine.mx/k-dramas/hansu-el-villano-de-pachinko-marca-un-antes-y-despues-para-lee-min-ho/

[msdot]

I just watched Ep 7. LMH is terrific but the story is very, very grim. People have to be forever changed by such things, and it’s easy to understand how Hansu went from a wide-eyed young man with prospects to a hardened man with a cynical view of the world. Still, I think there was a buried yearning in Hansu that was expressed in his love for Sunya. LMH always has a way of expressing that in his characters, that vulnerability. I just love him!

[nina_mitrokhina]

 

 

Lee Min Ho Talks About Acting In Korea And America

 

April 22, 2022  Larry Brown

 

Lee Min Ho: One of the most anticipated Korean series this year was Pachinko, due to performances by big stars like Hallyu actor Lee Min Ho. Who has not hesitated to talk about the differences to act for an American production and a Korean production.

Lee Minho He is one of the main characters in Pachinko, series produced by Apple TV +. From the beginning of filming, the Hallyu actor shared how different it was to work for such a large production, to difference of the jobs in which he usually participates in South Korea.

One of the most popular actors in the world of Korean dramas is Lee Min Ho, since his participation in Boys Over Flowers, the actor has remained at the top conquering thousands of hearts.

For that reason, it was not surprising that he was called for a project as big as Pachinko. The actor told in interviews about how different it is to work for a project outside the world of K-Dramas.

 

For Lee Min Ho, the differences between filming in Korea and in the US are many

At the beginning of the recordings, Lee Minho He confessed that for the first time in almost a decade he had to audition to get a role. Due to his popularity, he found the idea of auditioning exciting and a new challenge, though he couldn’t help but feel nervous that he had missed practice.

In the same way, he mentioned that one of the main differences between Korean and American productions is that one of the people who is completely involved in the filming process is the showrunners.

Lee Minho He mentioned that working in South Korea, the productions had never had a showrunner, so it was something new for him to see that Pachinko had this level in the direction that was in charge of checking that everything went according to plan.

In the same way he spoke with surprise and admiration of the Level of detail that foreign productions have. That they take care of every detail, even asking the actors if they feel comfortable acting out certain situations like kisses. So Lee Min Ho couldn’t help but be amazed at this style of work.

 

Lee Min Ho’s Pachinko Popularity Keeps Growing

Since the premiere of Pachinko, Lee Min Ho’s name has been trending worldwide. Mainly because of his performance as a villain in the series. Since many of his fans are used to seeing him as the hero of the story. Which has become quite refreshing for his followers. Are you liking Pachinko?

 

https://www.amknews.com/lee-min-ho-talks-about-acting-in-korea-and-america/

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Pachinko Episode 7: It Turns Out "Bad Boy" Lee Min Ho Was Once Such a Warm Boy, What Tragedy Has Happened, What Changed 180 Degrees?

 

Peach An Tu Rhythm

 

The seventh episode of Pachinko explores the tragic past of Lee Min Ho's character Ko Han Soo.

Recently, the 7th episode of the film Pachinko was released on the screens. This episode reveals the difficult and tragic past that Go Han Soo (Lee Min Ho) had to go through. From the very beginning of the film until now, Han Soo is shown to be a cold and pragmatic person. He was even called the "bad boy" for getting Sun Ja pregnant, but he didn't marry her. However, it is obviously not by chance that a person becomes like this.

 

 

Once upon a time, Ko Han Soo had a difficult but happy life with his father.

 

 

Han Soo's father loves him very much.

 

In his youth, Han Su was also a respectful, kind and warm guy. His father worked in a Japanese boxing gym, and Han-soo got a job as a tutor for Andrew, the son of a wealthy Holmes family. Han Su is very good at math and initially had the opportunity to go to America with the Holmes family. But the great earthquake in Yokohama changed Han Soo's life in a completely different direction.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Ko Han Soo was supposed to have a very good future.

Han Su's father passed away right in front of his eyes. Moreover, the entire Holmes family could not avoid the tragedy when a strong earthquake occurred throughout the city, everything was engulfed in flames and everything turned into ruins.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Seeing the Japanese burn their compatriots alive...

 

Spoiler

 

 

... Ko Han Soo wanted to help, but he couldn't do anything.

This natural disaster greatly affected Han Su's spirit. In the midst of the incident, the suspicion and hatred of the Japanese towards the Koreans made Han-soo feel humiliated, angry, and helpless. He even had to witness how the Japanese burned 4 compatriots alive.

 

Spoiler

 

 

The events of life caused a huge shock to Ko Han Soo.

The Pachinko movie airs every Friday morning on Apple TV+.

 

Translation from Vietnamese google

https://m.afamily.vn/pachinko-tap-7-hoa-ra-trai-deu-lee-min-ho-lai-tung-la-mot-anh-chang-am-ap-den-the-nay-bi-kich-nao-xay-ra-ma-thay-doi-180-do-20220422105307091.chn

[syntyche]

cr: rebeccalee.ca IG

 

Ready? Episode 7…

 

 

 

 

 

 

[syntyche]

MYM IG and LMH tw update 

 

[Breaking News] After the 7th episode of Pachinko, I've heard that people are crying for "Hansu."

Actor Lee Minho's Pachinko, who is completely absorbed by Hansu, will present you 50 minutes of perfect immersion! Only on Apple TV+

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

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@msdot, I read somewhere that the upbeat opening credits is played in 7 of the 8 episodes. It turns out that this is where they didn't play it, as this episode is in fact grim. And to think that I was even elated to finally see Hansu smiling, at the early part of the episode, that is.

Well, hats off to Actor LMH!

[Kris Silva]

 

‘Pachinko’ Episode 7: Recap And Ending, Explained – What Prompts Hansu To Join The Yakuza?

 

....  His expression slowly changes from fear to sadness to stern resolve as he realizes what he needs to do to survive, with Ryoichi’s connection to the Yakuza being the first step. And, to be very honest, if this episode doesn’t get Lee Min-Ho, Kogonada, Soo Hugh, and the rest of the team all the awards in the world, it will prove yet again that something is wrong with the entertainment industry, period. In that scenario, please shower all the love and appreciation on the team of “Pachinko” for doing such a stellar job of (nearly) making us empathize with someone as cruel and heartless as Hansu...

 

Read the rest of the article here:  

 

https://dmtalkies.com/pachinko-episode-7-recap-ending-explained-2022-apple-series/

 

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Star Lee Minho and showrunner Soo Hugh take us inside Pachinko's story of the Great Kantō Earthquake.

 

When Pachinko show-runner Soo Hugh first discovered the Great Kantō Earthquake, she knew she had to write about it. Hugh was deep into the process of drafting Apple TV+’s adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s award-winning novel, an emotionally epic story of one immigrant family told across four generations, when her research revealed a devastating history that her American schooling had never taught her. That history crystallized the show’s themes, unlocked one character’s backstory, and spoke deeply to the struggles of the Zainichi (Koreans and their descendants who came to Japan during its colonial rule of Korea).

.......  .

Esquire: The Great Kantō Earthquake wasn’t part of Min Jin Lee’s novel. When did it enter the show?

Soo Hugh: In doing research before we even had a writers’ room, I came across the history of the Great Kantō Earthquake. I was just completely taken aback. The earthquake was enormous, with such a devastating number of lives lost, and a staggering destruction of infrastructure in Japan. I thought, "I can't believe that people don't know about this." My education in the United States did not teach me about it. Then I came across a footnote saying that after the earthquake, there was violence upon the Koreans. This should be part of our historical education. As I was reading about this history, I was thinking about Hansu. He's probably the most fascinating character in the book—so charismatic and almost indecipherable at times. In a television adaptation, when you're seeing an actor portray a character, it's hard to be indecipherable, so we talked a lot about who Hansu was. It felt so intuitive that the earthquake would be his backstory.

Lee Minho: When this story first came to my attention, I felt that I could add more layers to this character and make him more multifaceted. But at the same time, I was a little worried, because it was a side story added to the main plot-line. This is a truly immense natural disaster, and I’ve never experienced that before. It's completely unimaginable. So I tried to watch a lot of earthquake-related documentaries, including a show called The Historical Journal, which has an episode about the Great Kantō Earthquake. I tried to watch these other shows to grasp the image. I learned that back in those days, most of the houses were made of wood, so what caused the most damage was not the earthquake itself, but the fires that followed. That was shocking.

.......... 

ESQ: How did you go about calibrating the performance of this different Hansu? It strikes me as almost a kind of working backwards.

SH: For Minho, before any frame was shot, he knew about this episode. I think this is the episode that really excited him about playing Hansu, because he's never played a role like this before. I don't think anyone in the world is expecting this huge superstar to play this role, and he's just so good in it. To see that rawness in him shows you that he's capable of doing a lot with his acting muscles.

LM: When I performed as adult Hansu, I wanted to highlight the fact that he’s someone who tries to stop himself from feeling certain emotions. He's a rather stoic person, whereas the younger Hansu is honest and true to his emotions. I wanted to balance out those two sides of him. My main goal was to portray this young man who was full of hopes and dreams, and how going through this tragic event causes him to lose his hopes and dreams altogether. I wanted to show how this man is instantly discouraged and deflated from all his previous hopes.

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read the rest of the article here....  

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a39775965/pachinko-earthquake-true-story-lee-minho/

 

 

[Kris Silva]

 

 

Pachinko's Lee Min-ho and Soo Hugh explain episode 7's tragic earthquake twist

 

"When you see that kind of horror, how can you not change?"

Unlike the rest of Pachinko, episode seven halts the timeline-hopping in favour of something more straight and linear. "We always said that episode should feel like a standalone film by itself," says Hugh, which it does, and not just because of its smaller time-scale.

Chapter Seven is epic in a very different way to the rest of the show, and the trauma it explores is far more visceral and immediate than anything seen in the other episodes too. That's because this extraordinary hour of TV hones in on the real-life tragedy of Kanto's 1923 earthquake, along with the massacre of countless Koreans that followed.

....

"I personally remember the scenes where I was at the cliff with Sunja," says Lee Min-ho. "Where she cleans her clothes. There, Hansu talked about his past and his childhood."

"I think that moment was an emotional healing for me. Because for Hansu, he kept his past and his childhood hidden from everyone, and it was something he didn't really look into. But through Sunja, it was the first time that it kind of broke loose, and he really talked about his childhood and his past."

....

 

Read the rest of the article here ... 

 

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a39784288/pachinko-earthquake-true-story-episode-7/

[CallieP]

 

[Kris Silva]

 

‘Pachinko’ Showrunner on Creating a New Backstory for the Original Novel’s Most Mysterious Character

By Wilson Chapman

Plus Icon

....

Min-ho Lee, who plays Hansu, is one of the most famous actors in Korea. Can you tell me about casting Min-ho Lee, who is one of the most famous actors in Korea, for the show?

This was a very long casting process, not only because we have a lot of roles to cast, but we also had a lengthy audition process for the characters. When you, as a writer, when you live with characters as long as I have, in your head you visualize them in one way, right? And then you watch them in the audition tapes and either you’re surprised and delighted or you’re just like “No, that person is not right.” And I have to check myself, but part of the magic of making films and TV shows is that actors can bring characters to life in a way that you haven’t expected. And I have to allow myself open to that. So when I think about Chapter 7 especially, Min-ho had never done a series like this before. He’s Korea’s biggest super star. His image is so pristine. And so I’m thinking, “Can he play Hansu or not?” A lot of it was “Let’s see how he does in the audition.” And he was just so gung-ho about wanting to get this part, and had a lot of fun in the audition, and really stretched himself and showed us a side that we’ve never seen of Min-ho, and the world has never seen of Min-ho. And Chapter 7, I think it really an unveiling of what Min-ho can do, what he’s capable of.
...

 

Read the rest of the article here..

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/pachinko-soo-hugh-1235237538/

 

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Pachinko star Lee Minho on Hansu's tragic backstory and anti-hero status
The actor discusses his character's devastating past, "villain" status, hopes for a potential season 2, and more.
By Jessica Wang
April 22, 2022 at 12:00 PM EDT
...

Lee Minho does not consider his Pachinko character a villain.

The South Korean actor plays Hansu, the enigmatic wealthy fish broker in the aching Apple TV+ series based on Min Jin Lee's novel of the same name. An older, married man with ties to the yakuza, Hansu shapes the life of central protagonist Sunja (played by newcomer Minha Kim and Oscar winner Yuh-Jung Youn during two stages of her life) in formative ways, beginning an all-consuming love affair and later fathering her firstborn son. 

......

 

"While season 1 serves as the beginning of Sunja and everyone else's stories, I think season 2 [would] dive into how each character managed to survive and [continued to] live their lives," Lee surmises. "I expect more desperate and intense stories that were not previously unveiled in season 1." Hopefully, Lee says, the audience "will be able to witness the different sides and colors of Hansu more clearly." 

So far, creator and showrunner Soo Hugh's masterful adaptation has garnered glowing reviews. In her A grade review of the series, EW's Kristen Baldwin queried, "Is it too soon to crown the best show of 2022?" Lee is grateful for the reception. "So much work and passion from a lot of people have been put into this," he says. "I'm happy to see that it's been recognized and rewarded. I am grateful to be able to share my feelings with the audience through this work. Thank you to my fans and all the supporters."

.....

 

Read the rest of the article here...

https://ew.com/tv/pachinko-star-lee-minho-hansu-backstory-anti-hero/

 

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Why ‘Pachinko’ Episode 7 Diverged From the Narrative to Tell Hansu’s Backstory
TheWrap spoke with actor Lee Min-ho and the filmmakers behind the Apple TV+ series about how the penultimate episode came together

 

The penultimate episode of Apple TV+’s “Pachinko” steps away from central character Sunja’s narrative to give a glimpse into Hansu’s past. Episode 7, directed by Kogonada and written by Ethan Kuperberg and Soo Hugh, delves deeper into the narrative of Hansu (Lee Min-ho), and TheWrap spoke with the filmmakers and Lee Min-ho about bringing the episode (which invents a new storyline not found in Min Jin Lee’s source material) to life.

....

For Lee Minho, the mental immersion into Hansu was an extensive process. 

“I tried to understand the vibes and the feelings of people that were actually present at the time, and I asked myself a lot of ‘what if I were Hansu’ questions,” Minho told TheWrap. “So after reading the script for the first time, the second time I was reading it, I would keep asking myself why he would speak this way and why he wouldn’t directly involve himself, but indirectly do things.”

...

“Depending on your perspective, Hansu could actually come off as oppressive or sometimes even evil. It was the same thing for me before filming the seventh episode,” Minho said. “I was kind of curious about why he became so ruthless and what happened to him that made him this way. And while I was filming the seventh episode, I could really understand why he had to become that ruthless person when he was young. He was a very good hearted person, so I could really understand how he became that character. So it was actually a very heartbreaking episode for me.”
...

 

Read the rest of the article here...

https://www.thewrap.com/pachinko-episode-7-hansu-backstory/

 

 

 

[backstreetboysfan]

OMG Hansu's story was so heartbreaking had me crying . He was such a sweet guy you can see why he changed.

[syntyche]

‘Pachinko’ Star Lee Minho Calls His Character “A Villain Generated by Tragedy”

 

 

The Korean superstar opens up about making his Hollywood debut in Apple TV+'s epic series and the "pressure" of anchoring an entire episode dedicated to his character's backstory.

 

[Warning: This story contains spoilers for the Pachinko episode “Chapter Seven.”]

 

The Apple TV+ adaptation of Pachinko has taken some significant departures from Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel of the same name, none more so than in its first season’s penultimate episode, which fleshes out and in many ways creates a new backstory for Hansu, the mysterious and powerful character played by superstar Lee Minho.

 

Whereas the rest of the series alternates back and forth between protagonist Sunja’s life as a young Korean woman (Minha Kim) living under Japanese imperial rule in the 1930s and her latter days as a grandmother (Yuh-Jung Youn) in boomtime 1980s Japan, “Chapter Seven” takes place entirely in Yokohama in 1923. That timestamp might tip off certain audience members to the cataclysmic event that transpires during the episode: the real-life 7.9 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people, including Koreans living in the area. As depicted in the episode and described in its epilogue, in addition to falling casualty to the quake itself, many Koreans were also blamed for post-quake destruction and killed by Japanese vigilantes in the aftermath.

 

As viewers learn, living through and bearing witness to these traumas transformed Hansu from a humble tutor devoted to his single father to the poised, cold businessman who seduces Sunja a decade later. Lee, 34, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the significance of the episode in forming his character and how Hansu compares to the leading man roles that made him one of the most beloved celebrities throughout Asia.

 

This interview was conducted with a Korean translator and edited for length and clarity.

 

This episode, which explores Hansu’s past, is completely original to the show. Did you already know there would be this addition to the character’s story when you auditioned? How did you feel about having an episode all to yourself?

 

I was not aware of it going into the audition at first. I believe I read the script up to episode 4. As if putting puzzle pieces together, it felt like the character of grown-up Hansu was coming together to completion. I was able to resonate with him about why he was being so realistic and living a life without looking back. These thoughts have helped me to add more dimensions to the character.

And I had pressure to carry on with it, since the episode deviated from the main story.

 

Were you able to shoot the show chronologically – in other words, did you get to play younger Hansu first? How does the shooting order affect your character preparation as an actor, if it does?

 

We could not film the scenes in order since we were filming in two different countries, Canada and Korea. So we took turns filming younger Hansu and older Hansu. It was hard to portray Hansu of different ages, but he had extremely different personalities in each era, so it helped me to build a solid foundation for his character.

 

What kind of research did you do for this role, especially about the 1923 Yokohama earthquake and the lives of Koreans living there at the time?

 

I did my own research based on the script and the novel. I watched many clips that recreated the historical backgrounds of that time, documentaries regarding earthquakes and read many articles about Koreans who lived in that era.

 

In this episode, Hansu speaks in three languages, experiences emotional trauma and also deals with several action sequences with a lot of dangerous-looking practical effects. What was the most challenging part of shooting this episode?

 

The most challenging part was the portrayal an energetic young boy. I wanted to portray this young boy whose eyes are glistening with curiosity and aspirations, but it was not an easy task. Speaking different languages certainly was quite challenging, but I figured that Hansu would not be fluent either since he is in the early stage of learning those languages, so it wasn’t too pressuring.

 

You’ve been a leading man for a long time, which means that even when your characters have flaws, they are still the one that the audience is rooting for. Hansu plays a different role in the story. He’s not supposed to be the hero, so do you approach him any differently from your other characters?

 

I don’t think there is a big difference from other characters I’ve played before. I always try to stay true to each character I play and be authentic for my audience. With that said, I consider Hansu as a villain generated by the tragedy of desperate times. Therefore, I tried to create a character who lives his life fully committed to his own logic and value.

 

With such enduring success all over Asia, why were you interested in exploring this particular Hollywood project?

 

This project really hit different. It narrates stories of Asians, but I think the story applies to anyone living in this era beyond race, ethnicity and nationality. It is a powerful story that anyone could relate to. The character of Hansu drew me in a lot. Fortunately, I was offered to do an audition for a role, and I am beyond grateful to be able to do my first Hollywood series.

 

In addition to all your experience in Korean TV and film, you’ve also shot a Chinese-Korean co-production (Bounty Hunters). How did shooting Pachinko – an American production – compare with your past experiences?

 

No matter where filming takes place, what happens on the set seems no different wherever you are at. But depending on the size of the budget, I get to face new experiences and opportunities that thrills me. Other than that, I usually think about how to portray the scenes better. And that is why being with Soo Hugh, the showrunner, was very meaningful to me in that sense. Normally screenwriters don’t come to the studio in Korea, but for this particular show, I got to have a lot of conversations with her, and I was able to transfer the energy I got from her to a great synergy.

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/pachinko-lee-minho-1235133764/

[CallieP]

On 4/3/2022 at 7:14 PM, CarolynH said:

I'm probably going to sound like a broken record, but this is really bugging me.  Why did Hansu's father in law chose Hansu, a Korean man, to marry his daughter.  Couldn't he find a Japanese man?  I hope this question is answered in ep 7. 

So after Episode 7, we can answer your question, Hansu meets his future wife at almost the end of episode 7. Ryoichi's daughter.  He already recognizes Hansu's potential,  he takes him under his wing and he has a young daughter. 

I will talk more about this episode later.  Still digesting it.  The final scene of Hansu is mesmerizing and haunting.

[nina_mitrokhina]

Lee Min Ho, in Dangerous Love, Reveals His Anti-War Past... Full of Sincerity ("Pachinko")

 

2022.04.23
Reporter Kang Min Kyung

 

 

Actor Lee Min Ho delivered a convincing performance in the original 'Pachinko' on Apple TV+. Another famous scene was born.

Episode 7 of the original Apple TV+ Pachinko, which was released on the 22nd, revealed the hidden story behind Ko Han Soo (Lee Min Ho) before he became successful as a heartless businessman.

 

 

Lee Min Ho made a strong impression in Pachinko as a businessman full of ambition and a bad man in dangerous love. This time he showed how faithfully and justly he lived every day in his former poverty.

 

In addition, tender feelings for his father (Jung Woon-in) and the appearance of accepting fate, experiencing unexpected crises and humiliations, touched the hearts of the audience.

 

Recently, on leeminho film's official YouTube channel, Lee Min Ho said, "Han Soo survived in his own way. Even playing an actor makes my heart hurt.” According to him, Go Han Soo, who possessed unspoilt innocence, convincingly explained why he should change with his sincere acting. In particular, to increase immersion in the game.

 

 

Lee Min Ho tried to radically change not only in acting, but also in appearance. Not a masculine and refined figure, but with a lush hairdo, rustic fashion, a simple smile and a pitiful look, Go Han Soo's character was born and praised. In each situation, he was impressed with different levels of enthusiasm, fluent in dialect, English, and Japanese.

 

After appearing in Pachinko, Lee Min Ho plays the role of a trailblazer who spearheads the insatiable Hallyu craze, demonstrating the dignity of a top Hallyu star. With his ability to digest character as well as chemistry with other actors, he creates famous scenes every time, raising questions about Lee Min Ho's performance in the latest episode.

 

Meanwhile, "Pachinko", which features Lee Min Ho, is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name and is a piece that delicately and warmly tells the story of a Korean's hopes and dreams. immigrant family. The final episode will air on the 29th.

 

Kang Min-kyung, Tenasia staff correspondent

Translation from Korean google

https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000542895

[syntyche]

‘A difficult time’: why popular TV series Pachinko was met with silence in Japan

 

Experiences of zainichi, brought over as labourers, highlights bitter historical legacy between South Korea and Japan that still lingers

 

It has charmed critics and attracted big audiences in the UK and the US, but the TV adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel Pachinko has barely merited a mention in one of the countries that inspired it.

 

The eight-part drama, currently streaming on Apple TV+, evokes the universal migrant experience, but it is also an uncomfortable reminder of the bitter historical legacy of Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

 

The story of a family who leave Busan in South Korea for Osaka’s Korean quarter in the early 20th century, Pachinko’s narrative draws on the real-life experiences of the zainichi, the name for people of Korean descent who form one of Japan’s biggest ethnic minorities.

 

Spoiler

Kang Mijija’s family moved to Japan after the second world war, and encountered a country that offered opportunity, but at a price. As immigrants hailing from the Korean peninsula – freed from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule at the end of the second world war – they were easy targets for locals who despised their new neighbours.

 

“People threw water and even stones at my aunties,” Kang, a second-generation zainichi, told the Guardian at a café in Tsuruhashi, an Osaka neighbourhood with a large ethnic Korean community. “That was a really difficult time. Now we live in a grey zone … those extremes have gone, but there is still systemic discrimination and hate speech.”

 

Kang’s parents were first-generation zainichi – Japan’s 430,000-strong Korean diaspora, many of them the descendants of people forcibly brought to Japan as labourers before and during the second world war.

 

Just as Pachinko – named after the pinball-like gaming machine that has given many ethnic Koreans a livelihood– appeared last month, audiences in Japan were confronted with another chapter in their country’s troubled relationship with its neighbour.

 

Shusenjo, a documentary by director Miki Dezaki, examines the controversy over the “comfort women” – an estimated tens of thousands of women and girls, mainly from the Korean peninsula, who were coerced into working in Japanese military brothels before and during the second world war.

 

Dezaki, who recently took his documentary around Japan and to the US, had to fight off a legal challenge from right-wing commentators who claimed they had not given their consent to appear in the film. “The right-wing nationalist view of the comfort women issue is now the mainstream narrative in Japan,” he says.

 

Under its longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, Japan set about dismantling its “masochism” over the war, casting doubt on accepted narratives about the Japanese military’s role in recruiting comfort women and the use of zainichi as forced labour.

 

“This accelerated the overall intolerant atmosphere in Japanese society,” says Satoko Oka Norimatsu, a co-coordinator of the International Network of Museums for Peace. “Japanese people do not think racism exists in Japan, and they do not like to face up to the fact that they are active perpetrators of racism against the zainichi.”

 

Dezaki noted how little coverage his legal victory had attracted, even in Japan’s liberal media. “Unless Japanese news media, especially TV news media, cover my film or Pachinko, there will be no balance,” he said.

 

The balance has tipped in favour of conservative, revisionist interpretations of history. Japan has pushed bids for Unesco world heritage status for sites that used Korean workers. Under government pressure, school textbooks that will be introduced next year omit the word “forced” to describe wartime labourers and make no mention of the military’s role in recruiting comfort women.

 

While legal crackdowns on hate speech have weakened far-right groups such as Zaitokukai, which calls for the removal of supposed “privileges” for ethnic Koreans, there are no penalties for violators, and much of the abuse has migrated online.

 

Few believe the films – along with a recent freedom of speech exhibition in Tokyo that included a statue symbolising the comfort women – will be enough to rein in rightwing narratives about the zainichi and Japan’s wartime conduct.

 

“I don’t think the far right is going to shut up anytime soon,” says Bang Chungja, a second-generation zainichi Korean who belongs to an Osaka-based network demanding compensation and an official apology for victims of wartime sexual slavery. “Japan should recognise the truth of history … Japanese people suffered terribly in the war too, but they were not the only victims.”

 

The Japanese consulate in Lyon reportedly tried to prevent Shusenjo from being shown at the city’s Institut d’Etudes Politiques, while Japanese officials have backed campaigns for the removal of comfort women statues in the US and Germany.

 

“It’s good that people who watched the film may become interested in the issue of the comfort women, but their supporters are losing the fight in Japan,” says Tomomi Yamaguchi, an associate professor of anthropology at Montana State University.

 

“The Japanese government and the mainstream media have taken the stance that Japan is not responsible for sexual slavery [during the war]. While younger people may be interested in Korean pop culture, mainstream Japanese society is stuck in a revisionist version of history.”

 

Kang, though, was cautiously optimistic that Pachinko and Shusenjo could raise awareness of the Korean experience in Japan. “I think Min Jin Lee intended to tell our story to the entire world, and it’s good that people are learning about the zainichi.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/21/pachinko-tv-series-korea-japan-min-jin-lee

 

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Oscar-winning Youn Yuh-jung eyes Emmy for 'Pachinko'

 

 

Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung has emerged as a key contender for an Emmy Award for her role in the drama "Pachinko," raising hopes she could be the first South Korean to win both an Oscar and an Emmy.

 

At the Academy Awards last year, Youn was named Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the livewire grandmother role in the American immigration film "Minari" (2020), becoming the first South Korean to win an acting Oscar.

 

About a year later, she stars in the latest Apple TV+ original series "Pachinko," based on the namesake novel written by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee. The eight-part epic family saga follows Sunja who has to go through a tough life in Japan-occupied Korea and in Japan after the Second World War.

 

While "Pachinko," co-directed by Korean-Americans Kogonada and Justin Chon, has won rave reviews from critics and viewers, Youn's performance as older Sunja, who lives in Japan as a Zainichi, a Japanese word for ethnic Koreans who have permanent residency status in Japan but don't have Japanese passports, has been also critically acclaimed.

 

"Youn benefits from a liberal expansion of Sunja's story from the last third of the book, and no actor so conveys the polar extremes of the material's sadness and ebullience, sometimes with precious little dialogue," Hollywood Reporter said in its review of "Pachinko."

 

Based on her presence in "Pachinko," she has emerged as a strong contender for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in the upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards, the most prestigious honor for primetime television programming in the US

 

According to Gold Derby, an American awards prediction website, Youn placed ninth in the drama supporting actress category as of Thursday, up from 12th about three weeks earlier. Sarah Snook of "Succession" and Julia Garner of "Ozark" are leading the race.

 

"If 'Pachinko' finds similar popularity after accruing that unanimous critical praise, it is likely that Youn will be recognized for her affecting work yet again," said Gold Derby.

 

If she clinches the trophy, she will become the first South Korean to win both an Oscar and an Emmy.

 

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220421000562

 

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Pachinko season 1, episode 7 recap – Hansu gets the backstory treatment in a gripping instalment

 

An entire episode devoted to the criminal Hansu allows for a thankful return to form. This chapter is full of heart-breaking sorrow and shocking violence.

 

Koh Hansu, played by Lee Min-ho (a South Korean icon) is without a shadow of a doubt the main bad guy in Pachinko. He cheated on his wife, who he is extremely distant with, and impregnated poor Sunja, leaving her as a shamed woman. The merchant is frequently violent and aggressive to the locals, being feared by all in the region. So it comes as quite the shock to see an entire chapter dedicated to the criminal, with the added surprise of director Kogonada actually making us pity and sympathize with the man to boot. Pachinko returns to its previous form with another stellar episode.

 

We’re introduced to a younger Hansu in 1923 Yokohama, Japan. The future fish broker sports a larger-than-life Beatles haircut and a boyish smirk. He is an excellent mathematician, even tutoring an American family. His father, who is also an accountant, has big dreams for his son and works tirelessly to provide him every possible opportunity. The crime boss he works for wants Hansu to start at the business as well, but the father manages to shrug this off.

 

Hansu is a promising individual, who ironically supports a privileged family whilst his own live in poverty. The series highlights the destitution of Korean migrants in Japan, providing Hansu with an emotional backstory. The Holmes family want him to journey to America to help their son study at Yale, but he doesn’t want to abandon his father. This bubbling conflict erupts when Hansu’s father steals from his boss and Hansu wishes to ask the Americans for a loan. Pride outweighs logic here and the father refuses to accept anyone else’s money, desperate for his son to leave for greater things in the US.

 

The show delivers another devastating twist as the city is destroyed by a (historically accurate) deadly earthquake. This destructive force of nature kills thousands and annihilates the cityscape. A noxious smoke descends upon the ruins of the city and survivors stumble to safety. Hansu manages to track down the Americans and together they flee.

 

This may be the most brutal episode yet, filled with violence and human depravity. Hansu’s origin tale allows viewers the chance to sympathize with the villain and see his actions from a different stance. The filmmakers cleverly flip our perspective in a gripping chapter, where the series returns to its earlier high standards. With only one more episode of Pachinko left to go, like many others, I will be sad to see this series end.

 

https://readysteadycut.com/2022/04/22/recap-pachinko-season-1-episode-7-apple-tv-plus-series/

 

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Pachinko is yet another proof of the sheer amount of talent in the Korean series and film industry

 

The family drama inventively interweaves stories from different periods.

...

Although the series is an American production, directors and actors are from the region. We can call Pachinko as yet another proof of the endless amount of talent that the Korean series and film industry produces. The budget was apparently considerable, because the series is at its most classic eye-catching, in all periods in which the story takes place. Readers of the book, which is told chronologically, will have to get used to the way the timelines are intertwined here. A perhaps opportunistic move, so as not to give viewers the impression that they are watching a costume drama for the first few episodes. In terms of content, it works out well, as we are constantly receiving image rhymes in which we see how the burden of the past continues to affect the family for generations later.

 

The main reasons to watch Pachinko are the two great actresses who play the part of Sunja. The elder Sunja is played by Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung for her role in the migration drama Minari (2020) . Kim Min-ha plays her first major role as the young Sunja, an unforgettable combination of vulnerability and intransigence.

 

https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/pachinko-is-het-zoveelste-bewijs-van-de-enorme-hoeveelheid-talent-in-de-koreaanse-serie-en-filmindustrie~b9dc49cf/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F