News | Entertainment
17 Feb 2026 12:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Youn Yuh-jung says her Oscar nomination is “stressful” because she feels as though she’s “competing for [her] country”

    The ‘Minari’ star will become the first South Korean actress in history to win the Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards if she takes home the trophy for her role in the drama at the ceremony on Sunday (25.04.21)


    And Yuh-jung has said she’s nervous about the big day because it feels “like the Olympics”.

    She told People magazine: "It's stressful. I feel like I'm competing for my country. It's like the Olympics. I don't believe in competition, especially comparing acting to one to another. So being nominated to me, means I already got the award."

    The 73-year-old actress has already taken home a Screen Actors Guild award and a BAFTA for the film, and recently said she felt “honoured” to have been selected for the accolades.

    Whilst accepting the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress earlier this month, Yuh-jung admitted she was incredibly shocked to have received the award because the British are known to be a bit "snobbish".

    She said: "Wow Britain! I am Korean actress, Yuh-Jung Youn, and I don't know what to say. I'm very honoured to be nominated for this award ... First, I'd like to express my deep condolences for your Duke of Edinburgh and thank you so much for this award. Every award means a lot but this one, especially recognised by British people known as very snobbish people, who chose me as the winner - I'm very grateful. Thank you very much."

    Yuh-jung previously said ‘Minari’ has "brought her a lot of gifts".

    She said: "Me, a 73-year-old Asian woman could have never even dreamed about being nominated for an Oscar. ‘Minari’ brought me a lot of gifts ... It’s embarrassing. Most people fell in love with the movies or fell in love with theatre. But in my case, it was just an accident ... To tell you the truth, I didn’t know what acting was. I tried to memorise the line and do whatever they asked me to do. At the time, I didn’t know if I was enjoying it or if I disliked it."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     17 Feb: Jane Fonda lies in bed imagining what she would say to President Donald Trump
     17 Feb: Kaley Cuoco's fiancé Tom Pelphrey has never watched her hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory
     17 Feb: Jo Wood has decided to stay single for now after failing to find a suitable man on dating apps
     17 Feb: Lucy Hale has sparked engagement rumours after she was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand during a recent coffee date with Phillip Lopez in Los Angeles
     17 Feb: Margot Robbie would've "risked it all" for Lord of Rings character Aragon during her teenage years
     17 Feb: Iran's state TV airs 'forced confessions' of 'scapegoats' whose families fear could face execution
     17 Feb: Michelle Yeoh thinks Hollywood can be slow to progress because some people are scared to "lose out"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Irish rugby to investigate racial abuse towards Test debutant Edwin Edogbo More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    This week marks the anniversary of New Zealand's first frozen lamb shipment to the UK, 144 years ago More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Jane Fonda lies in bed imagining what she would say to President Donald Trump 12:27

    Law and Order:
    Three people ended up in Dunedin hospital on Saturday - in varying states of consciousness, hit in the head by thrown objects at a party on Castle Street 12:27

    Soccer:
    A deflating exit for the most unlikely team to feature in the fourth round of English football's FA Cup 12:07

    Entertainment:
    Kaley Cuoco's fiancé Tom Pelphrey has never watched her hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory 11:57

    Business:
    This week marks the anniversary of New Zealand's first frozen lamb shipment to the UK, 144 years ago 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Jo Wood has decided to stay single for now after failing to find a suitable man on dating apps 11:27

    National:
    What Thailand’s election means for the future of the country – and its beleaguered pro-democracy forces 11:17

    Rugby:
    Irish rugby to investigate racial abuse towards Test debutant Edwin Edogbo 11:17

    Business:
    Pharmacists have accepted a Health New Zealand pay offer 11:07

    Entertainment:
    Lucy Hale has sparked engagement rumours after she was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand during a recent coffee date with Phillip Lopez in Los Angeles 10:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd