When viewers first encounter Sunja, portrayed by the talented Minha Kim, in the second season of “Pachinko,” the bustling marketplace in Osaka serves as her stage. The audience hears her captivating voice before her figure becomes visible, as she passionately markets her kimchi to the vibrant market crowd, promising them a nostalgic taste of home.
Minha Kim embarked on her journey with “Pachinko” in 2021, navigating her second professional acting role and her debut in an American production. Taking on the formidable task of animating the central character from Min Jin Lee’s renowned novel, “Pachinko,” Minha Kim has woven herself into the fabric of this multi-generational saga, depicting themes of love, loss, grief, and survival with remarkable grace. Her portrayal in the first season garnered critical acclaim, earning her a nomination for the Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in a New Series and an accolade as Breakout in TV at the 2022 Asian American Awards’ Unforgettable Gala. Additionally, her appearance in the music video “Come Back to Me” by RM of BTS earlier this year further showcased her diverse talents.
Returning for a much-anticipated second season, Minha Kim shared insights during an interview with The Hindu about her approach to Sunja’s character. She remained consistent with her initial portrayal, but the narrative’s time leap required careful attention. “I think the most important part for me is to feel genuinely and in an authentic way. A time jump meant that I had to maintain her personality and work on building my own stories of Sunja,” she explained.
In the second installment of “Pachinko,” set against the backdrop of 1945 Osaka, Sunja appears seasoned by her experiences. The city, engulfed in the chaos of war, stands in stark contrast to Sunja’s composed demeanor. She shoulders immense responsibilities—managing her household amidst scarcity, worrying about her missing husband, looking after their two young sons, and maintaining hope for her mother’s safety in Japanese-occupied Korea. The remnants of her homeland are preserved through the kimchi she makes and the Korean language she speaks with her children.
Director Leanne Welham enthusiastically praised Minha Kim’s embodiment of Sunja, lauding her as a ‘smart actor.’ She acknowledged the inherent challenge of entering a second season to portray such a complex character, yet applauded Minha for her intuitive and luminous on-screen presence. Leanne, along with directors Arvin Chen and Sang-il Lee, collaborated to bring the new season to life, utilizing Japanese, Korean, and English languages to tell the story.
While discussing the significant responsibilities shouldered by Sunja, Minha Kim emphasized the character’s resilience and love, which transform her burdens into acts of devotion. Sunja’s continual emotional conflict and her efforts to navigate extraordinary circumstances as an ordinary woman were critical focal points during the filming process. “Every situation that she is facing is quite hard. What I tried to do as the character is to just accept it and admit it, something that I feel Sunja is very good at.
. She just… goes on,” Minha revealed.
Throughout the series, Sunja is portrayed as a decision-maker, acting both for herself and her family. “Even if she has a moment where she is confused, she is never lost for too long and realizes there is no right or wrong in the situation. She is very fast. She has a responsibility to protect her family and protect herself as well,” Minha explained further.
Minha also highlighted her conscious effort to ensure the portrayal of Sunja was multi-dimensional, with varied emotions and nuanced relationships with other characters. Following a seven-year progression since the first season, Sunja’s sons are now eight and thirteen years old, and her sister-in-law Kyunghee emerges as a significant support. The re-entry of Koh Hansu, played by Lee Min-ho, reintroduces elements of their shared troubled history.
The ensemble cast, featuring notable names like Jung Eun-chae, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Jin Ha, and Yuh-jung Youn, significantly contributes to the series’ depth. Minha Kim expressed her admiration and camaraderie with her co-stars, recalling numerous conversations about their characters and mutual trust that bolstered their performances. “They are great actors, and we had many conversations about our characters and relationships. But we mostly followed our own instincts, trusted each other, and had faith in our own characters. We believed each other,” she said.
As anticipation for “Pachinko” season two builds, a social media post by Lee Min-ho showcased behind-the-scenes camaraderie, with playful photos of him and Minha Kim in New York, charming fans. “The entire cast had a great relationship off-camera, and we had some time to hang back in Korea after we finished filming. I think this really did help us on set as well,” Minha reflected warmly.
“Pachinko” season two is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on August 23, promising to continue the compelling narrative with even more intricate layers and enhanced performances.
