“The stakes feel a lot more urgent for our characters than in season one”: Soo Hugh and Minha Kim on Pachinko season two

Mae Trumata 21 August 2024

“The stakes feel a lot more urgent for our characters than in season one”: Soo Hugh and Minha Kim on Pachinko season two

A multilingual Apple TV+ series following multiple generations of a Korean family living in Japan during the 20^th century, Pachinko is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Min Jin Lee. Shifting from past to present, the show centres around two main characters, Sunja and Solomon. Sunja is the matriarch of the family whose story revolves around her early assimilation into Japanese society, as well as the growth and formation of her family. Solomon is her grandson living in the 1980s, a young man trying to prove himself in the daunting world of business. The series tackles themes of alienation and immigrant discrimination, especially in a heightened period of tension between Korea and Japan.

This second season of Pachinko, set seven years post-season one, focuses more on the generation after Sunja: her two sons Noa and Mozasu. It deals with their experiences in school, Noa’s relationship with his – unbeknownst to him – biological father Hansu, and how their characters develop through the circumstances of WWII. Of course, Sunja remains a very present figure dealing with her internal struggles such as learning to open up to her ex-lover Hansu. While the series does hang heavily on the rift between Korea and Japan, there’s a universal and timeless aspect to the themes covered in Pachinko.

The Upcoming interviewed showrunner Soo Hugh who discussed balancing the cultures and perspectives of the two very different countries of Korea and Japan, the characters she most looked forward to exploring this season and what it was like working with multiple actors playing the same role in two different time periods.

We also spoke with Minha Kim about the trajectory of Sunja’s journey this season, her favourite aspects of her character and the complex love stories Sunja is tangled in between Isak and Hansu.