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APPLE TV+ Hansu (Lee Min-ho, right) seduces teenage Sunja (newcomer Minha Kim). |
The highly anticipated dramatic series Pachinko, a sweeping saga of a Korean family's rise to power and prominence will premiere globally on on Apple TV+ on March 25.
Epic in scope and intimate in tone, the story begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell an sweeping story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning by following a single Korean family as it survives war and rises to financial prominence.
Pachinko the series, is written and executive produced by Soo Hugh (“The Terror,” “The Killing”), who will also serve as showrunner. Kogonada and Justin Chon are executive producers and directed four episodes each, with Kogonada directing the pilot.
“They say there are those projects that come along and change the very core of who you are as a filmmaker and a person. Undoubtedly, Pachinko is that project for me,” said Soo Hugh, who created the series.
The series, with its largely Asian cast, Asian and Asian American themes addressing racism and identity, is a "must-watch" project for Asian American audiences seeking more representation on US networks and entertainment platforms.
The drama will be told in three languages — Korean, Japanese and English — and debut with the first three episodes followed by new weekly installments each Friday during its eight-episode season through April 29, 2022.
The series is based on The New York Times best-selling acclaimed novel by Min Jin Lee.
Epic in scope and intimate in tone, the story begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell an sweeping story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning by following a single Korean family as it survives war and rises to financial prominence.
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APPLE TV+ Sunja’s grandson Solomon (Jin Ha), a Japan-raised Korean, climbs the corporate ladder inNew York City's Wall Street. |
While Pachinko is a love story at its core, the original novel of the same name confronts themes such as racism and stereotypes. By dealing with the experiences of Koreans in Japan during World War II, the book also explores how the Japanese occupation of Korean territory had severe effects on both countries' cultures and relations.
The novel’s title is a reference to the popular game's chaotic nature, as the characters at the center of the story have their lives constantly uprooted by things that are out of their control.
The novel’s title is a reference to the popular game's chaotic nature, as the characters at the center of the story have their lives constantly uprooted by things that are out of their control.
Pachinko the series, is written and executive produced by Soo Hugh (“The Terror,” “The Killing”), who will also serve as showrunner. Kogonada and Justin Chon are executive producers and directed four episodes each, with Kogonada directing the pilot.
The series will have a predominantly Asian and Asian American cast that includes: Soji Arai as Mozasu, Jin Ha as Solomon, Inji Jeong as Yangjin, Minha Kim as teenage Sunja, Lee Minho as Hansu, Kaho Minami as Etsuko, Steve Sanghyun Noh as Isak, Anna Sawai as Naomi, Junwoo Han as Yoseb, Jung Eun-chae as Young Kyunghee, Jimmi Simpson as Tom Andrews, Yu-na Jeon as young Sunja, and Academy Award-winning actress Youn Yuh Jung as older Sunja.
“Not only is this a story of my forebears, it’s my tribute to them — to all of the Sunjas buried deep in all of our family’s history," says Soo Hugh. "It’s been an incredible honor to bring this series to life with this dedicated and gifted cast and crew.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.
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