Smash hits like 'Squid Game'&nbsp;and 'Parasite'&nbsp;may make it look easy, but Emmy-winner Lee Jung-jae says South Korean cinema spent years learning how to reach unprecedented global audiences through stories about the competitiveness and violence of modern life.

Lee spoke to AFP just days after making history as the first foreign-language performer to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama with 'Squid Game'&nbsp;-- the most-watched Netflix show of all time.

"As a piece of work that is not in English that we're able to bring to the global audience, we're very happy about that," said Lee.

"Even from Korea everybody was so happy and they were sending me congratulating messages," he said during an interview at the Toronto film festival.

"When I go back there's a lot of interviews and things waiting for me!"

The brutal social satire about misfits and criminals competing for cash in twisted versions of schoolyard games followed in the footsteps of South Korea's 'Parasite',&nbsp;which two years earlier became the first foreign-language movie to win the best picture at the Oscars.

"For a long time, Korean cinema has been trying to figure out how to connect better with global audiences," said Lee.

"Now, as a result of these years-long efforts, we see a lot of high-quality content, that has resonated around the world and won critical acclaim."

It has also been a huge commercial success: 'Squid Game'&nbsp;director Hwang Dong-hyuk is writing an eagerly-awaited second season, with Lee teasing that his character Seong Gi-hun "will be completely different" this time around.

- 'Overly competitive' -

But before then comes 'Hunt',&nbsp;Lee's directorial movie debut, which earned a prestigious "gala presentation" premiere this week at the Toronto International Film Festival -- relatively rare for an Asian-language film.&nbsp;

The twisty Cold-War era spy thriller in which Lee also stars is loosely based on real 1980s political events, including an attempted assassination of South Korea's president and the defection of a North Korean pilot.

Lee said the film shares some themes with 'Squid Game'&nbsp;-- including its unflinching depiction of violence, as rival South Korean spies turn against and even torture one another.

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For instance, it too looks at how an "overly competitive society could actually lead to people hurting each other."

'Hunt'&nbsp;has already topped the box office in its home country and will be released in North American theatres and on-demand streaming on December 2 by Magnolia Pictures.&nbsp;

But in a further sign of how Korean movie-making is adapting to the needs of its new-found audience, the final version reflects a more global film.

Following its initial screening at the Cannes film festival in May, some critics complained the plot was difficult to follow for Western audiences not familiar with Korean politics, so Lee re-cut it to simplify some elements, and revised the subtitles.

But, he emphasized, the film is less about Korean history and more about "how this violence is happening all around the world globally," hurting ordinary people.

"This movie is about these two protagonists and whether their principles are righteous."

"What's most important is, because it's an espionage action-drama, that I just want you to really enjoy the film," he said.

- 'Growing closer' -

When 'Parasite'&nbsp;director Bong Joon-ho stunned Hollywood by winning best picture at the Oscars in 2020, he spoke about the importance of overcoming "the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles."

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Lee said he has not discussed South Korea's newfound global clout with Bong, but agreed that the country's culture "has become widely understood globally" as the world becomes more inter-connected via technology such as global streaming and social media.

"In Korea actually we watch a lot of content from different countries and all around the world, so it's very natural for us," he said.

He added: "The world is a lot closer now... Korea's distinctive story is not something that is difficult for foreign audiences to understand."

"It's natural. With everyone growing closer to each other, it's not difficult to understand the emotions -- whether it's pain or grief -- of others, because we live in a world where feelings are shared instantly."

Smash hits like 'Squid Game' and 'Parasite' may make it look easy, but Emmy-winner Lee Jung-jae says South Korean cinema spent years learning how to reach unprecedented global audiences through stories about the competitiveness and violence of modern life.

Smash hits like 'Squid Game' and 'Parasite' may make it look easy, but Emmy-winner Lee Jung-jae says South Korean cinema spent years learning how to reach unprecedented global audiences through stories about the competitiveness and violence of modern life. Lee spoke to AFP just days after making history as the first foreign-language performer to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama with 'Squid Game' -- the most-watched Netflix show of all time. "As a piece of work that is not in English that we're able to bring to the global audience, we're very happy about that," said Lee. "Even from Korea everybody was so happy and they were sending me congratulating messages," he said during an interview at the Toronto film festival. "When I go back there's a lot of interviews and things waiting for me!" The brutal social satire about misfits and criminals competing for cash in twisted versions of schoolyard games followed in the footsteps of South Korea's 'Parasite', which two years earlier became the first foreign-language movie to win the best picture at the Oscars. "For a long time, Korean cinema has been trying to figure out how to connect better with global audiences," said Lee. "Now, as a result of these years-long efforts, we see a lot of high-quality content, that has resonated around the world and won critical acclaim." It has also been a huge commercial success: 'Squid Game' director Hwang Dong-hyuk is writing an eagerly-awaited second season, with Lee teasing that his character Seong Gi-hun "will be completely different" this time around. - 'Overly competitive' - But before then comes 'Hunt', Lee's directorial movie debut, which earned a prestigious "gala presentation" premiere this week at the Toronto International Film Festival -- relatively rare for an Asian-language film. The twisty Cold-War era spy thriller in which Lee also stars is loosely based on real 1980s political events, including an attempted assassination of South Korea's president and the defection of a North Korean pilot. Lee said the film shares some themes with 'Squid Game' -- including its unflinching depiction of violence, as rival South Korean spies turn against and even torture one another. Also read: Top Kenyan photographer's unseen images of the queen For instance, it too looks at how an "overly competitive society could actually lead to people hurting each other." 'Hunt' has already topped the box office in its home country and will be released in North American theatres and on-demand streaming on December 2 by Magnolia Pictures. But in a further sign of how Korean movie-making is adapting to the needs of its new-found audience, the final version reflects a more global film. Following its initial screening at the Cannes film festival in May, some critics complained the plot was difficult to follow for Western audiences not familiar with Korean politics, so Lee re-cut it to simplify some elements, and revised the subtitles. But, he emphasized, the film is less about Korean history and more about "how this violence is happening all around the world globally," hurting ordinary people. "This movie is about these two protagonists and whether their principles are righteous." "What's most important is, because it's an espionage action-drama, that I just want you to really enjoy the film," he said. - 'Growing closer' - When 'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho stunned Hollywood by winning best picture at the Oscars in 2020, he spoke about the importance of overcoming "the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles." Also read: London Fashion Week opens in mourning for queen Lee said he has not discussed South Korea's newfound global clout with Bong, but agreed that the country's culture "has become widely understood globally" as the world becomes more inter-connected via technology such as global streaming and social media. "In Korea actually we watch a lot of content from different countries and all around the world, so it's very natural for us," he said. He added: "The world is a lot closer now... Korea's distinctive story is not something that is difficult for foreign audiences to understand." "It's natural. With everyone growing closer to each other, it's not difficult to understand the emotions -- whether it's pain or grief -- of others, because we live in a world where feelings are shared instantly."

Korean cinematic rise years in the making, says 'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae

'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae just created history at the Emmys 2022. The South Korean actor, who played the lead role of Seong Gi-hun in the megahit Netflix series, took home the biggest acting prize of the evening for males: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He took on bigwigs like Jason Bateman, Brian Cox, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Scott, and Jeremy Strong to clinch the trophy. With this win, Lee Jung-jae becomes the&nbsp;first winner in this category who won the award for&nbsp;a non-English performance.&nbsp;

Also winning for the show was creator, writer, and director&nbsp;&nbsp;Hwang Dong-hyuk. He won an Emmy in the&nbsp;Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series category for the first episode of the show titled 'Red Light, Green Light'.

"Thank you to the Television Academy, thank you to Netflix and thank you to the director for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script. Thank you, `Squid Game` team. Thank you to everyone watching in Korea," Lee Jung-jae said.

Earlier, the show had taken four trophies at the&nbsp;Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including an&nbsp;Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series&nbsp;award for Lee Yoo-mi. In total, 'Squid Game' won 6 awards out of 14 nominations.&nbsp;

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Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, 'Squid Game' was a survival drama based on a contest in which down-on-the-luck participants are lured to a secret location. Then a series of deadly games take place, in which those who do not proceed to the next round are killed. The series explored the themes of classism and economic disparity in capitalistic societies like South Korea. Dong-hyuk envisioned the story from his own experiences of economic hardships.

Soon after its release, the series became a cultural phenomenon throughout the world, and was called one of the finest examples of the so-called 'Korean Wave'. It&nbsp;received a&nbsp;universally positive critical reception. The show also created several viewership records in as many as 94&nbsp;countries and became by far&nbsp;the most watched show on Netflix. It also won big at this year's Golden Globes.

A season 2 is in active development. It will continue the story of&nbsp;Seong Gi-hun,&nbsp;Lee Jung-jae's character, as he takes on the creators of deadly game.

'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae just created history at the Emmys 2022. The South Korean actor, who played the lead role of Seong Gi-hun in the megahit Netflix series, took home the biggest acting prize of the evening for males: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae just created history at the Emmys 2022. The South Korean actor, who played the lead role of Seong Gi-hun in the megahit Netflix series, took home the biggest acting prize of the evening for males: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He took on bigwigs like Jason Bateman, Brian Cox, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Scott, and Jeremy Strong to clinch the trophy. With this win, Lee Jung-jae becomes the first winner in this category who won the award for a non-English performance. Also winning for the show was creator, writer, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk. He won an Emmy in the Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series category for the first episode of the show titled 'Red Light, Green Light'. "Thank you to the Television Academy, thank you to Netflix and thank you to the director for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script. Thank you, `Squid Game` team. Thank you to everyone watching in Korea," Lee Jung-jae said. Earlier, the show had taken four trophies at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including an Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series award for Lee Yoo-mi. In total, 'Squid Game' won 6 awards out of 14 nominations. Also Read: Emmys 2022: The complete winners' list Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, 'Squid Game' was a survival drama based on a contest in which down-on-the-luck participants are lured to a secret location. Then a series of deadly games take place, in which those who do not proceed to the next round are killed. The series explored the themes of classism and economic disparity in capitalistic societies like South Korea. Dong-hyuk envisioned the story from his own experiences of economic hardships. Soon after its release, the series became a cultural phenomenon throughout the world, and was called one of the finest examples of the so-called 'Korean Wave'. It received a universally positive critical reception. The show also created several viewership records in as many as 94 countries and became by far the most watched show on Netflix. It also won big at this year's Golden Globes. A season 2 is in active development. It will continue the story of Seong Gi-hun, Lee Jung-jae's character, as he takes on the creators of deadly game.

Emmys 2022: 'Squid Game' creates history, wins two trophies in acting and directing categories

South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, who gained global fame after he played the lead actor in Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' has signed his next big gig. As per Deadline, he will play the male lead in the upcoming 'Star Wars' series titled ‘The Acolyte’. The series comes from Leslye Headland, the co-creator of 'Russian Doll'. Amandla Steinberg will play the female lead in the series.

Jodie Turner-Smith is also in the show's cast. We do not yet know what character Lee will play in the show. The series is said to be a mystery thriller that will explore the darker corners of the galaxy far, far away. The story is set towards the end of the High Republic Era.

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'The Acolyte’ follows previous Disney+ shows set in the 'Star Wars' universe. It all began with 'The Mandalorian', which was followed by 'The Book of Boba Fett' and 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'. Other upcoming shows include 'Andor', 'Ahsoka', 'Skeleton Crew', and 'Lando'.

For his performance as an unemployed work father of a young girl Seong Gi-hun in 'Squid Game', Lee Jung-jae is nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category. He faces off against bigwigs like Jason Bateman, Brian Cox, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Scott, and Jeremy Strong.&nbsp;

Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, 'Squid Game' was a survival drama based on a contest in which down-on-the-luck participants are lured to a secret location. Then a series of deadly games take place, in which those who do not proceed to the next round are killed. The series explored the themes of classism and economic disparity in capitalistic societies like South Korea. Dong-hyuk envisioned the story from his own experiences of economic hardships.

The series released to a universally positive critical reception. It also created several viewership records in many countries and became the most watched show for Netflix. It also won big at this year's Golden Globes. It is expected to create history at the Emmys.&nbsp;

South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, who gained global fame after he played the lead actor in Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' has signed his next big gig. As per Deadline, he will play the male lead in the upcoming 'Star Wars' series titled ‘The Acolyte’.

South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, who gained global fame after he played the lead actor in Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' has signed his next big gig. As per Deadline, he will play the male lead in the upcoming 'Star Wars' series titled ‘The Acolyte’. The series comes from Leslye Headland, the co-creator of 'Russian Doll'. Amandla Steinberg will play the female lead in the series. Jodie Turner-Smith is also in the show's cast. We do not yet know what character Lee will play in the show. The series is said to be a mystery thriller that will explore the darker corners of the galaxy far, far away. The story is set towards the end of the High Republic Era. Also Read: 'Brahmastra' Twitter Review: Netizens call Ranbir Kapoor's film 'beyond imagination' 'The Acolyte’ follows previous Disney+ shows set in the 'Star Wars' universe. It all began with 'The Mandalorian', which was followed by 'The Book of Boba Fett' and 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'. Other upcoming shows include 'Andor', 'Ahsoka', 'Skeleton Crew', and 'Lando'. For his performance as an unemployed work father of a young girl Seong Gi-hun in 'Squid Game', Lee Jung-jae is nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category. He faces off against bigwigs like Jason Bateman, Brian Cox, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Scott, and Jeremy Strong. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, 'Squid Game' was a survival drama based on a contest in which down-on-the-luck participants are lured to a secret location. Then a series of deadly games take place, in which those who do not proceed to the next round are killed. The series explored the themes of classism and economic disparity in capitalistic societies like South Korea. Dong-hyuk envisioned the story from his own experiences of economic hardships. The series released to a universally positive critical reception. It also created several viewership records in many countries and became the most watched show for Netflix. It also won big at this year's Golden Globes. It is expected to create history at the Emmys.

‘Squid Game' actor Lee Jung-jae cast as lead of upcoming 'Star Wars' show 'The Acolytes'

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Korean cinematic rise years in the making, says 'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae

Emmys 2022: 'Squid Game' creates history, wins two trophies in acting and directing categories

‘Squid Game' actor Lee Jung-jae cast as lead of upcoming 'Star Wars' show 'The Acolytes'