Actor Lee Jung Jae was nominated for the Critics' Choice Awards. 

While the list of nominees for the 27th Critics' Choice Awards was revealed on December 6th, Lee Jung Jae was nominated for the Best Actor in a Drama Series for the Netflix series 'Squid Game'.

The nominees include Lee Jung Jae, Sterling K. Brown ('This Is Us'), Mike Colter ('Evil'), Brian Cox ('Succession'), Jeremy Strong ('Succession'), and Billy Porter ('Pose').

The Critics' Choice Awards is an event hosted by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) of the United States and is considered one of America's leading awards ceremony. The awards are divided into film and TV categories, and it is also a place to predict the results of major awards such as the Emmy Awards. 

'Squid Game' starring Lee Jung Jae was nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Foreign Language Drama at the Critics' Choice Awards. 

Lee Jung Jae perfectly portrays the three-dimensional character Sung Ki Hoon through 'Squid Game', gaining popularity not only in Korea but also globally. Recently, he also appeared on CBS's 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert', a representative American talk show, and proved his popularity. 

The 27th Critics' Choice Awards will be held on January 9, 2022. 

Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]