Actor Youn Yuh-jung, 77. [Reuters]
Actor Youn Yuh-jung, 77. [Reuters]

Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, one of the most prestigious honors in American television.

The Television Academy announced nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Wednesday, with Youn earning a nod for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, according to entertainment trade outlet Deadline.

Youn plays Chairman Park, a billionaire Korean woman who takes over a country club, in Season 2 of the Netflix series "Beef." Song Kang-ho appears in a special guest role as Dr. Kim, her husband in an age-gap couple dynamic.

Youn became the first Korean actor to win an Academy Award for supporting actress for "Minari" in 2021. A win at the Emmys would mark yet another historic milestone. Lee Jung-jae made history earlier in 2022 when he won the Emmy for outstanding lead actor for his role in the Netflix series "Squid Game."

"Beef" Season 2, directed by Korean American filmmaker Lee Sung-jin and filmed in part in South Korea, received a sweeping number of Emmy nominations Wednesday.

The series earned nods for outstanding limited or anthology series — the top prize equivalent to best picture — as well as outstanding lead actress (Carey Mulligan), outstanding lead actor (Oscar Isaac), outstanding supporting actor (Charles Melton), outstanding casting, outstanding contemporary costumes, outstanding directing and outstanding editing, among other categories.

Melton, nominated for outstanding supporting actor, is himself of Korean heritage.

From left, Lee Sung-jin, Youn Yuh-jung, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Charles Melton attend a special screening of the Netflix series "Beef" Season 2 in April. [AP]
From left, Lee Sung-jin, Youn Yuh-jung, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Charles Melton attend a special screening of the Netflix series "Beef" Season 2 in April. [AP]

"Beef" swept eight Emmy Awards in its first season in 2024, including outstanding limited series and both lead acting prizes. Korean American actor Steven Yeun's win for outstanding lead actor drew wide attention at the time.

The 78th Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com