Korean actor Lee Jung-jae returned to South Korea after winning at the 74th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles and attending the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada.
The 49-year-old star of the hit Netflix Korean series “Squid Game” and the movie “Hunt” arrived at Incheon International Airport on Sept. 18.
At the Emmys, Lee Jung-jae won the outstanding lead actor in a drama series for “Squid Game” to become the first Korean to bag the award.
His directorial debut film “Hunt”was invited to the TIFF gala presentation.
In an interview with the media at the airport, he said, "I had talks with many people and discussed ways to help Korean content gain access to global viewers. I will do my best to promote Korean content and join overseas productions to make quality content," according to Yonhap News.
About his career, he added, "I will keep making films and producing them as well if I'm given a chance. Of course, I have to do my acting well. I think we need to do something more to help Korean content become globally-accepted shows."
In a video uploaded by his agency Artist Company after he won the Emmy, Lee Jung-jae said, “I feel very complicated.”
“I can't just say that I'm happy. A piece of work that's not in English getting recognized at the biggest award ceremony in the US. How I should accept this or how to work with my colleagues in the future is very complicated,” he explained.
As the first Asian actor to get the lead actor award at the Emmys, he said, “I think I have more thoughts about that now. As an Asian and main character, I realized that it took a long time to win the award so I don't take it lightly.”
“In the US, Koreans are very happy but other Asians are happy, too. I'm feeling that the award that I received can't be enjoyed by myself,” he said.
About “Squid Game,” he said, “I've acted many different characters. Among all the characters that I've tried, I think each and every one of them are in Sung Ki Hoon. So when I look back the character that I did experimentally before or a character that I liked by myself or the characters that I thought the audience would like I know they were all compiled. I wonder how the audience will remember the character of Lee Jung-jae and Sung Ki Hoon in ‘Squid Game. I think there are parts that the viewers need to think about.”