Soo Hugh Interview: Pachinko
Pachinko, an adaptation of the New York Times best-selling novel by Min Jin Lee, finally arrives on Apple TV+ March 25. Spanning much of the 20th century and traversing cultures, the epic series follows a Korean family forced to immigrated to Japan in the midst of the Japanese occupation of their homeland. Told in Korean, Japanese and English, the historical drama tackles themes as diverse as forbidden love, religious piety, and the crushing weight of poverty and discrimination.
Written and produced by Soo Hugh, who previously worked on The Terror and See, the family saga centers on one remarkable woman named Sunja. Opening prior to her both, the story takes us through her teenage years (where she's played by impressive newcomer Kim Minha) and shows her as the matriarch of three generations (a role perfected by Youn Yuh-jung of Minari). Korean drama heartthrob Lee Min-ho will surprise audiences in the role of the dangerous Koh Hansu, whose passion for Sunja is what sets the tale in motion. The first season consists of 8 episodes, with directing duties split between Kogonada (Columbus) and Justin Chon (Blue Bayou),
Related: Pachinko Trailer Shows Beloved Novel Adaptation As Epic Family Saga
Hugh spoke to Screen Rant about the research that went into grounding the historical settings of the series in authenticity, as well as the spark that each of its leads brought to the important milestones in Sunja's life.
Even for those who had not read the novel and were not aware of its importance, I think that the moment that we heard that Lee Minho had to audition for the role, everyone knew it was a big deal. What was it about his performance or his interpretation of Koh Hansu that really spoke to you?
Soo Hugh: There's so many
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