Critics Choice Awards 2023: Lee Min Ho’s ‘Pachinko’ Bags Major Achievement

"Pachinko" starring Lee Min Ho, Kang Min Ha, and Youn Yuh Jung ended the night with a remarkable win at the Critics Choice Awards 2023.

For this year, the annual ceremony took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler.

Honoring the finest and top-notch series and movies in the entertainment industry, the novel-based series "Pachinko" bagged remarkable recognition along with amazing and hit Hollywood projects.

While A24's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" scored 14 wins and ABC's "Abbott Elementary" left with 6 awards, "Pachinko" has taken home the Best Foreign Language Series at the 28th Critics Choice Awards.

'Pachinko' Wins Best Foreign Language Series at the 28th Critics Choice Awards

The Lee Min Ho led series beat nominees including Netflix's "1899," "Kleo" and "Borgen," HBO Max's "Garcia!," HBO's "My Brilliant Friend," Apple TV+'s "Tehran," MUBI's "The Kingdom Exodus" and the smash hit K-drama starring Park Eun Bin, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" also under Netflix.

As mentioned, it is based on the novel of the same name written by Min Jin Lee while the adaptation is penned by Soo Hugh and directed by Koganda and Justin Chon.

It follows the story of a Korean immigrant family across four generations who dream of leaving their homeland to survive and thrive in a new life.

Headlined by South Korean top stars Lee Min Ho, who played the Jeju native Ko Han Su but lived in Japan after he was adopted by a family.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Best K-Dramas of 2022: 'Eve,' 'Pachinko,' 'Tomorrow' More Voted as Top Series This Year

Meanwhile, veteran actress and Oscar-winning Youn Yuh Jung took the role of older Sun Ja, the main protagonist with rookie actress Kim Min Ha playing her teen version.

Adding to the list of "pachinko" cast are South Korean-born American actor Jin Ha, "Curtain Call" actor Steven Noh, Japanese New Zealander Anna Sawai, and more.

Besides the new award, "Pachinko" also garnered various recognitions including Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes) at the Gotham Independent Film Award 2022, Independent Spirit Award 2023 for Best Ensemble Cast in a Scripted Series, and lastly, AFI 2023 TV program of the year.

Will There be 'Pachinko 2'?

In April 2022, ahead of the show's finale, Apple TV+ officially announced that "Pachinko" gets the green light for season 2.

In a report, the series showrunner, creator, writer, and executive producer Soo Hugh expressed gratitude after the streaming platform announced the upcoming sequel.

"Words cannot express my joy in being able to continue telling the extraordinary story of this indomitable family," she said, adding that it is an "honor to be able to continue working with this amazing cast and crew."

As the show prepares for its much-awaited return, the production crew has begun filming season 2 on November 2.

New familiar faces will be appearing in the sequel. The "Pachinko 2" cast includes Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Inji Jeong, Minha Kim, Lee Minho, Kaho Minami, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jun Woo Han, Eun Chae Jung, Jimmi Simpson, Yu-na Jeon, and Youn Yuh Jung.

READ MORE: 'Pachinko's' Emmy Snub Causes Disappointment Among Foreign Media

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Written by Geca Wills