When we first see Sunja, brought to life by Minha Kim, in the much-anticipated second season of “Pachinko,” she stands amidst the bustling crowd of a marketplace in Osaka. Interestingly, it’s her voice that catches our attention before she steps into view; she is busily calling out to passersby, inviting them to indulge in her kimchi, passionately describing its taste and adding, “Come, get a taste of home.”
In 2021, when Minha Kim embarked on filming the debut season of “Pachinko,” it marked only her second professional acting role and her first in an American production. The young actor faced the formidable task of portraying the central character from Min Jin Lee’s esteemed novel “Pachinko,” a sweeping saga chronicling four generations of a family navigating love, loss, grief, and survival. After delivering a critically acclaimed performance in the show’s first season, Minha was nominated for a Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in a New Series, and she was honored as Breakout in TV at the 2022 Asian American Awards’ Unforgettable Gala. In addition to her work on “Pachinko,” earlier this year, Minha appeared in the music video “Come Back to Me,” a track by RM of BTS.
Returning to the deeply complex role for a second season, Minha Kim shared insights in an exclusive interview with The Hindu. She discussed her approach to the character Sunja, noting that while her method remained consistent with the first season, the significant time jump in the storyline presented new challenges. “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 remarked.
In the dramatic second season of “Pachinko,” set in 1945, Sunja finds herself physically and emotionally more mature as she navigates life in war-torn Osaka. With her husband missing, possibly imprisoned, and two young sons to care for amid severe rationing and financial constraints, Sunja’s life is fraught with difficulties. Concern for her mother, who remains in Japanese-occupied Korea, weighs heavily on her mind. The remnants of “home” that she treasures are embodied in the kimchi she prepares and the Korean language she speaks with her sons.
Director Leanne Welham, awestruck by Minha’s portrayal of Sunja, praised her as a “smart actor” capable of bringing depth and authenticity to the character. Reflecting on Minha’s performance, Welham noted, “She managed to embody all that experience without it feeling heavy, given how intelligent and intuitive she is. She has this luminance about her when she’s on camera, which is unusual and amazing to work with.”
The second season of “Pachinko,” helmed by directors Leanne Welham, Arvin Chen, and Sang-il Lee, is presented in Japanese, Korean, and English, adding to the show’s rich cultural tapestry. Speaking on Sunja’s journey and her intricate battles, Minha highlighted the emotional turmoil and resilience her character possesses: “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.”
Sunja is constantly making life-altering decisions for herself and her family, showcasing resilience and practicality. Minha elaborated, “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 has a responsibility to protect her family and protect herself as well.” This also meant that Minha had to be mindful of ensuring her portrayal of Sunja was multifaceted. “I wanted to bring some diversity in my emotions. It isn’t always the same, and I wanted to build this individual’s relationships with other characters as well,” she explained.
As the narrative leaps seven years forward from the first season’s conclusion, Sunja’s sons are now eight and thirteen years old. Her bond with her sister-in-law Kyunghee offers her a strong support system, while the reappearance of Koh Hansu (portrayed by Lee Min-ho) reignites tensions rooted in their shared past.
The ensemble cast, an essential part of “Pachinko’s” success, features Jung Eun-chae, Lee Min-ho, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Jin Ha, and Yuh-jung Youn. Minha expressed her admiration for her co-stars, stating, “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.”
As anticipation builds for the season two premiere, actor Lee Min-ho teased fans with glimpses of their off-screen camaraderie. He posted delightful photos from New York City with Minha, captioning them playfully: “hansu & sunja in newyork.” The bond among the cast members, nurtured during and after filming, is evident and has significantly enhanced their on-screen dynamics. “The entire cast had a great relationship off camera, and had some time to hang back in Korea after we finished filming. I think this really did help us on set as well,” Minha concluded with a smile.
Season 2 of “Pachinko” is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on August 23, promising to delve deeper into the intricacies and heritage that define its beloved characters.
