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Sweeping all the major international awards, Youn Yuh Jung
ended 2021 awards season with her historic win at the
93rd Academy Awards.
On Sunday, April 25, Brad Pitt who is also one of the producers of the nominated film, presented the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress to the veteran actress Youn Yuh Jung in her landmark win for her performance in the American film "Minari."
She became the first South Korean actor to be nominated and the first to win this award. She is also, one of only two Asian actresses to be acknowledged by the Academy since 1958's win of Japanese-American actress and singer Miyoshi Umeki in the same category.
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Left: Jung Youn and Pitt at the Academy's Press Room. Right: With co-star Han Ye Ri on the Academy's Red Carpet
Photo Credit(s): People and Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock
In her delightful Oscar speech, she accepted the award from Pitt, who mispronounced her name.
"Mr. Brad Pitt, finally, nice to meet you. Where were you when we were filming? I’m very honored to meet you. As you know, I’m from Korea. Actually, my name is Yuh Jung Youn. Most European people call me Yuh Yung, and some of them call me Yoo Jung. But tonight, you are all forgiven. Usually, when I’m living in the other part of the world, I just watch the television. It is the Oscars. But even on the television, just watching, like a television program for us. But me being here by myself, I cannot believe I’m here. Okay, let me pull myself together.
Tremendous thanks to the Academy members who voted for me. Next in the speech they usually say, thank you for the wonderful ‘Minari’ family. Steven, Isaac, Ye Ri, Noel, Alan. We became a family. Above all, Lee Isaac Chung, without him, I couldn’t be here tonight. He was our captain and my director. So tremendous thanks to you.
See, I don’t believe in competition. How can I win over Glenn Close? I’ve been watching so many of her performances. All the nominees, five nominees, we are the winners for the different movies. We played different roles, so we cannot compete with each other. Tonight, I’m here because I have just a little bit of luck. Maybe I’m luckier than you. Also maybe, it’s American hospitality for the Korean actor? I’m not sure, but anyway, thank you so much.
I’d like to thank my two boys who make me go out and work. So this is the result. Because mommy worked so hard. And I’d like to dedicate this award for my first director Kim Ki Young who was a genius director that I made a movie together with. My first movie. I think he would be very happy if he was still alive. Thank you very much. Tremendous thank you to everybody."
| GIF Source: Vanity Fair - Youn Yuh Jung, holding her Best Supporting Actress Oscar Statute.
For her performance, she was nominated for dozens of industry awards, winning National Board of Review Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and BAFTA Award, all in Best Supporting category.
Much congratulations to the actress for her achievement and we wish her even more glorious career ahead!
Important Mention!
Chloe Zhao was the first Asian woman to win Academy Award for Best Director for her film "Nomadland." She was among the small pool of Seven Asian directors to be ever nominated for this category, while fourth overall and first women to win. She is also one of only two women ever to win this award among the seven female nominees.
