Few television series in recent memory have blended epic storytelling with intimate emotion as powerfully as “Pachinko,” and at the center of that impact is Min-ha Kim. Her portrayal of young Sunja anchors the Apple TV+ series with quiet strength and emotional precision, drawing viewers into the story of a Korean family navigating decades of displacement, colonial oppression, and generational sacrifice. Based on the best-selling novel by Min Jin Lee, the show unfolds across four generations and three languages: Korean, Japanese, and English, offering a layered narrative that explores identity, survival, and the cost of love.
Season Two expands both the emotional and historical scope of the story. The new episodes follow Sunja as she raises her sons in post-occupation Korea and Japan while navigating the long shadows of poverty, grief, and survival. Her eldest son, Noa, begins to confront his own identity, while her husband Isak, portrayed by Steve Sanghyun Noh, remains committed to his principles despite growing danger. Her former lover Hansu, played by global star Lee Min-ho, returns to Sunja’s life, reigniting the tension and heartbreak of a relationship marked by power, pain, and enduring connection. The ensemble also features Youn Yuh-jung as the older Sunja, Jin Ha as Solomon, Soji Arai as Mozasu, and Anna Sawai as Naomi.
At the core of the series is Kim’s revelatory performance, which serves as the heart and soul of “Pachinko.” Her portrayal is layered with resilience, vulnerability, and grace, especially in the emotionally fraught relationship between Sunja and Hansu. That dynamic, alongside Sunja’s unwavering love for her children and her determination to survive in the face of unimaginable hardship, has made Kim’s work resonate across borders and cultures. It is a performance that deserves awards recognition and a much wider spotlight.
While “Pachinko” remains one of Apple TV’s most acclaimed original series, its second season arrived with less visibility than many expected. The rollout was notably quieter compared to other prestige dramas, and as of this writing, the series has yet to be officially renewed for a third season. This uncertainty is surprising given the show’s excellence across the board—including direction, production design, score, and especially Min-ha Kim’s performance, which ranks among the most moving and complex on television this year.
From a historical standpoint, “Pachinko” illuminates a chapter of East Asian history that remains unfamiliar to many Western viewers. The story captures the Korean experience under Japanese colonialism and the generational trauma that followed through war and displacement. These are histories rarely explored in Western media, and the series presents them with human specificity rather than sweeping generalization. The result is a show that educates as much as it moves, revealing how the pain of the past continues to echo in the lives of ordinary people.
Min-ha Kim spoke with the United By Rice podcast and Awards Focus about the emotional challenges of Season Two, her evolving connection to the character of Sunja, the responsibility of portraying a woman who must constantly fight for her family, and the personal growth that has come from being at the center of such an important and underrepresented story. She also reflected on her hopes for Season Three, the overwhelming response from fans, and what it means to carry a role that has touched audiences across the world.
Awards Focus: I’m Ben Lei with Awards Focus and United By Rice. It’s so nice to meet you!
Min-ha Kim: Well, thank you.
AF: You have to play such a wide emotional range on the show. I’m a big fan. It feels like it’s been a while since Season Two of “Pachinko.” So my first question—have you heard anything about Season Three? Any updates, rumors, outlines, scripts?
Min-ha: Not yet, not yet. We’re still hoping that Season Three will happen. And we’re all gathering our thoughts about what the next season might look like. We always talk about what could be next and imagine our own stories for the characters. But no new updates yet.
AF: Do you feel like the book offers enough material to give you a sense of what Season Three could look like for your character and her sons? Season Two definitely pointed in a certain direction. Do you expect that story to continue or that we might see something entirely new from Soo and the team?
Min-ha: I think it’s a mix. Starting from the second season, there were a lot of stories that were newly made, aside from the novel. So if there’s a third season, I think it could go in that direction again. I think there could be more story about Noah, because in the novel there are more details about him, and we were all very curious about that part of his life.
So I think it will be a mixture—the writers’ new invention, and also something based on the original story. That balance is what made Season Two really rich, and I imagine they’d continue with that approach.
AF: Since the show premiered, have you been surprised by how fans have responded? I’ve talked to people all over who absolutely rave about it. Has anything stood out to you?
Min-ha: I’m always surprised, and I always really appreciate their reactions. One of the moments that really stayed with me happened right after “Pachinko” was released, maybe two or three years ago. I was walking through New York, and I remember people recognizing me on the street—more so than in Korea, actually, because Apple TV had just started streaming the show in Korea around that time.
There was a family visiting from Norway, and they stopped me. They said, “We watched your show and we loved it. We’re immigrants too, and it really resonated.” That moment was so powerful. It was the first time I heard from people on the street who had seen “Pachinko,” and they told me how much it meant to them. They had so much sympathy for the characters and the story—it was really emotional.
Even after that, other people—especially in Korea—told me it reminded them of their grandmothers or their families. Those moments made me proud to be part of the show and to play Sunja.
AF: Sunja is such a resilient character. What is it like to play her? How much of her is in you?
Min-ha: Playing Sunja was never easy. It was actually really hard, especially in the second season. Whenever I had scenes with my kids, it was incredibly challenging because I’ve never raised children myself. So I talked to my parents, my grandparents, and anyone I could—people who had kids.
Even our directors, three of them have children, so I asked them things like, “How do you talk to your kids?” For example, there’s a scene where Noah says he doesn’t want to go to college for the sake of the family, and that scene was one of the hardest for me. I kept wondering, “Should I insist? Should I be angry? Or should I stay calm?” I felt like his dream was my dream too. I was trying to show that conflict—how you can be mad and heartbroken at the same time because you love someone so much. That kind of love creates very complicated emotions, and it was something I had never personally experienced before.
AF: So maybe it was easier to play younger Sunja? And then harder to portray her as a mother?
Min-ha: Actually, no. It wasn’t easier to play the younger Sunja either. What I meant is that I found some similarities between her and me, so I could understand her. That’s where I started from. But it was still very hard to portray her, especially emotionally.
I’ve never lived through war. I didn’t grow up in the colonial era. So I had to do a lot of research. I read books, I watched interviews, I asked my grandparents about what that time was like. Still, it was a completely different world from mine. So I had to focus on the emotional side and imagine—what if this were me?
It became my job to step into that moment and feel it. I’d ask myself, “What would I do if I were in her shoes?” Then I’d try to compare that with what Sunja would do. That mixture of imagination and empathy helped me get close to her. And I was also helped by the other actors. They were so fully in character that when I looked at them, I could respond naturally. Sometimes I felt emotions during scenes that I didn’t expect just from reading the script. So yes—the writing was beautiful, but the cast and those moments helped bring it all to life.
AF: Before joining “Pachinko,” were you already familiar with this chapter of Korean history?
Min-ha: Yes, it’s very well-known history in Korea, especially the relationship between Korea and Japan. It’s a sensitive topic, but it’s one that we learn about growing up. These were critical events, and it was important for our generation to know them.
For our elders, it wasn’t just the past. It was something they truly lived through. It wasn’t history—it was their actual life. So it was important to remember, to study it properly, and to make sure their stories weren’t forgotten. I already had some background from childhood, but for the show I had to go deeper—not just in the facts, but in the emotional truth too.
AF: Talking to your grandparents must’ve brought up a lot. Did any of their stories feel similar to what “Pachinko” explores?
Min-ha: Yes. My grandmother couldn’t stop crying while she was watching “Pachinko.” It wasn’t just the historical setting—it was the characters and their relationships. I really believe the show isn’t just a historical drama. It’s about life. It’s about a woman and her family, about four generations going through difficult times.
While watching, my grandmother kept thinking about her own childhood. She told me she missed her mom, her siblings, and her children. It brought back all those memories.
I also remember a screening we had in Korea. Afterward, people shared their thoughts, and many of them said it reminded them of when they first came to Korea as immigrants. They talked about how much they missed their families, how many obstacles they had to overcome.
That’s when I realized this isn’t a story just about one country or one era. People are still migrating all over the world. They’re still feeling these same emotions—missing family, rediscovering love, building relationships. It’s universal.
AF: The actor who plays the older Sunja, Youn Yuh-jung, is such a legend. Did you two work together to sync your portrayals?
Min-ha: Honestly, we only met on set one time. Just once in two seasons. But she did invite me to her hotel once and she cooked for me. We talked a little bit about our characters, but not for very long.
I think we trusted each other. I didn’t want to be influenced by her performance—I just wanted to be present in my own scenes, and I think she felt the same. We focused on our own moments, and we let the story naturally connect us. That approach really worked. The directors and Soo helped us make sure everything aligned emotionally without forcing anything.
AF: Playing this role, diving into this heritage—has it changed how you think about your own identity?
Min-ha: Of course. As soon as I met Sunja and started trying to layer her story, I had to reflect on myself—on my own identity and dignity. Sunja is someone who knows how to carry herself with elegance and strength, even without formal education. She knows how to love and how to take responsibility for her family.
I learned so much from her. And as I portrayed her, I started to ask myself—how do I build that in my own life? How do I live with that same sense of responsibility and pride? So yes, it made me think a lot about who I am.
AF: “Pachinko” launched right as Korean dramas and Korean culture were becoming a global phenomenon. Now that you’re on a global platform, how do you want to shape your career? What kinds of stories do you hope to tell?
Min-ha: Wow. There’s still such a long road ahead. Thank you for calling me a global star—I still feel like I’m just a baby in this industry.
When I read a script, I’m always drawn to stories that are based on love. Any story that is honest, that explores relationships deeply, that comes from the heart—I want to tell those. Stories that let me be myself and let me start from who I really am. I’m still searching for those stories, and I hope I can be the kind of actress who brings them to life.
AF: Since you mentioned love—are you a romantic at heart?
Min-ha: I think so! I hope so. Romantic things always make me feel like a little girl again. I love those moments. And sometimes I wonder if I’ll get the chance to do a romantic project—something really sweet.
AF: What’s the most meaningful fan reaction you’ve received?
Min-ha: Like I said earlier, when people tell me the show reminds them of their families, or their childhoods, or someone they love—that means everything. Those reactions are always very emotional and very special. They stay with me.
AF: I know we’re short on time, so I’ll wrap with our signature question. After a long day on set, when you’re tired and hungry, what’s your favorite rice dish?
Min-ha: That’s a hard one! But I remember when I was filming Season Two in Toronto, after a really hard day, I would come home and cook soy sauce cabbage soup. It’s a Korean soup, very easy to make. I’d have it with white rice and kimchi. That was my comfort meal.
AF: That sounds perfect. Thank you so much, Minha. It was a real pleasure.
Min-ha: Thank you. Have a good day!
Want more? Listen or watch the United By Rice podcast with Min-ha Kim below!