{"id":20800,"date":"2025-12-17T19:20:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T11:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20800"},"modified":"2025-12-17T19:20:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T11:20:35","slug":"how-more-korean-actors-are-breaking-into-hollywood-thanks-to-shows-like-squid-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20800","title":{"rendered":"How more Korean actors are breaking into Hollywood thanks to shows like Squid Game"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When actress Amy Baik was cast in a South Korean advertisement last year, she thought she had landed a promising gig.<\/p>\n
But after filming wrapped, she was shocked to learn that both the director and advertiser had cut her scenes \u2013 not because of her performance, but because she lacked a facial feature prized in South Korean beauty standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason was that I don\u2019t have double eyelids<\/span>,\u201d says Baik, 26.<\/div>\n
\u201cAfter receiving that feedback, I started to reconsider what kind of appearance Korea wants,\u201d she adds, explaining that it \u201cmade me wonder how I can survive as an actor in South Korea\u201d.<\/p>\n
That experience pushed her towards a different market. The global success of Parasite<\/em><\/span>, Minari<\/em><\/span> and Squid Game<\/em><\/span> has opened doors for South Korean performers in Hollywood \u2013 and spawned a cottage industry of consultants helping actors navigate American casting.<\/div>\n
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<\/div>Lee Jung-jae in a still from season three of Squid Game. The global success of shows like Squid Game has opened doors for South Korean performers in Hollywood. Photo: Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Lee](\"https:\/\/img.i-scmp.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto\/sites\/default\/files\/d8\/images\/canvas\/2025\/12\/17\/60338593-879c-4074-a525-f72b265ae40e_005a7559.jpg\" "\\"Lee")
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