Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung, best known for her role in Minari, will be the focus of an upcoming retrospective at LA’s Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The museum will showcase seven of Youn’s films, including Minari, Woman of Fire, The Housemaid, A Good Lawyer’s Wife, Bacchus Lady, Boomerang Family, and Lucky Chansil. The series opens with Minari, where Youn plays a quirky grandmother. Curated by Hyesung ii, the retrospective aims to highlight the diversity of Youn’s career.
Youn’s career spans five decades, with more than 30 films and various TV shows under her belt. Known for her raw and unfiltered acting, she has taken on challenging roles throughout her career. The series will feature Woman of Fire, her debut film in 1971, directed by Kim Ki-young. The film showcases a complicated character whose life is revealed after her violent death. Youn’s work with Kim continued with two more films, and she thanked him when she won the Academy Award in 2021.
Another film in the series is The Housemaid, a remake directed by Im Sang-soo in 2010, where Youn plays a housemaid witnessing a destructive love triangle. A Good Lawyer’s Wife, released in 2003, focuses on the affairs of a dysfunctional family, with Youn playing the role of a wife of an alcoholic. The Bacchus Lady, released in 2016, features Youn as an elderly prostitute, showcasing the rawness and bravery in her acting. Boomerang Family (2013) and Lucky Chansil (2019) also highlight the depth and range of Youn’s performances.
Despite facing criticism for her personal life choices, including divorce, Youn persevered and continued acting to support her children. She played small and supporting roles, eventually earning more than 60 awards, including an Academy Award for her role in Minari. Now considered a national treasure in Korea, Youn’s life experiences have shaped her bold and brave portrayal of characters on screen. The retrospective at the Academy Museum aims to showcase the full breadth of Youn’s career and the unique characteristics she brings to each role she plays.
The retrospective will run from May 17 to May 25 at the museum, with Youn joining the museum in person for screenings on the opening weekend. Through showcasing a diverse range of Youn’s films, the retrospective offers a deeper look into the actress’s career and the complexities of her performances. From her debut film to her Academy Award-winning role in Minari, the series highlights the rawness and bravery that define Youn’s acting style and her unique contributions to the world of film.
