“I can’t understand why Kim Min-ha’s drama ‘Pachinko’ was snubbed”… Foreign media outlets rage as “Pachinko” was not nominated for major awards at the Emmys

tuleconghoaJuly 15, 2022Last Updated: July 15, 2022

3 minutes read

Not only Korean viewers but leading media outlets are also questioning the reason for the Emmys’ omission of “Pachinko” from its nomination.

Earlier, Korean netizens showed negative responses to the fact that Apple TV’s original series “Pachinko”, which depicts an unforgettable chronicle of war and peace, love and separation, victory and judgment set in the background going back and forth between Korea, Japan and the U.S., was omitted from the Emmys’ nomination.

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), which organized the Emmys, announced the list of nominees for the 74th Emmy Awards on July 12th (local time).

“Squid Game” became the first non-English program in the TV broadcasting industry to be nominated for an Academy Award. However, “Pachinko”, which was expected to win major awards at the Emmys this year together with “Squid Game”, only got one nomination, which is Outstanding Main Title Design.

With the appearance of Kim Min-ha, the actress who led the story based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Youn Yuh-jung, who won Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for the movie “Minari”, and famous Hallyu star Lee Min-ho, “Pachinko” drew keen attention globally. Despite that, the series seems to have been completely ignored by the Emmys.

Foreign media outlets have also voiced criticism over this issue.

INDIEWIRE said, “An extremely vocal online fanbase paired with rave reviews couldn’t push the Apple TV+ drama series into Emmy favor. It could be stiff competition, could be a lack of overall viewership, but such a widespread dismissal is hard to swallow.”

COLLIDER expressed great regret over Kim Min-ha not being nominated, saying “Pachinko’s Incredible Performances Makes Its Emmys Snub Criminal. Kim Min-ha, who plays the teenage version of the central character Sunja. Serving as the grounding force of the story, she delicately captured both the vulnerability and strength of her character with ease. She crafted a complex character all her own, making every solitary moment feel like it was bursting with emotion. One scene that stands out is when she has an uninterrupted conversation at the end of the third episode over a meal. Without spoiling, it is such a masterful moment that it has permanently etched it into my memory. Kim Min-ha should have gotten a nomination at the Emmy Awards. The underlying aspect of the show being snubbed is the fact that Emmys, as well as most awards broadly, have undervalued the work of art that is spoken in a language other than English.”

LA TIMES reported, “‘Pachinko’ might have been the best show on television this last year, so the paucity of recognition stings”.

HuffPost referred to Kim Min-ha and Youn Yuh-jung being eliminated from the nomination list and raised expectations for a the new season of “Pachinko”. They said, “Created by veteran TV writer Soo Hugh, ‘Pachinko’ should have gotten recognized for its staggering scale, its stories dealing with the repercussions of imperialism and intergenerational trauma. It’s gripping and visually stunning, and it’s chock-full of moving performances from a multigenerational and international cast. it would have been great to see acting nominations for Minha Kim and Oscar winner Yuh-jung Youn, who play the young and old versions, respectively, of the family’s matriarch Sunja. ‘Pachinko’ has been renewed for more seasons, so here’s hoping the Television Academy amends this massive snub in future years.”

In addition, Vulture explained why “Pachinko” didn’t make it to the Emmys, saying “‘Pachinko’ is a beautifully crafted family epic that considers the weight of our history and the malleability of our memories, and the fact that it was ignored fully — from its lush cinematography to its flawless ensemble — is a pretty bleak reflection of what kind of storytelling the Emmys is ignoring”.

Decider said, “It’s truly one of the most beautiful shows I’ve seen not just this year, but in my career as a TV critic. The cinematography, the direction, the writing, and the acting are all top notch. It’s a truly soulful show that definitely deserved more awards love for it’s brilliant first season.”

Hollywood Reporter pointed out, “Pachinko‘s opening credits deserve the nomination they got, but the rest of the show deserves a bunch more nominations they didn’t get.”

Mashable.india expressed disappointment on the Emmys’ nomination and expectations for “Pachinko Season 2”. They said, “Given the fact that nearly 750 TV shows were eligible for the Emmys this year, fans have been pretty shocked with one of the Emmys shunning shows like ‘Pachinko’”, adding, “Pachinko was absolutely snubbed. However, I think it says more about the people did not watch it than the storytelling, which was masterful. Cannot wait for season two.”

Awards ceremonies cannot be all the criteria to determine a “good work”, but it is regrettable that a truly good work is not treated properly and the controversy over discrimination is inevitable.