‘Minari’ Oscar Winner Youn Yuh-jung Reflects on Six-Decade Career at Singapore Film Festival: ‘I’m Not the Pope, I Don’t Have Any Message’

Dec 6, 2025 6:41pm PT ‘Minari’ Oscar Winner Youn Yuh-jung Reflects on Six-Decade Career at Singapore Film Festival: ‘I’m Not the Pope, I Don’t Have Any Message’ By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest ‘Becoming Human’ Wins Top Prize at Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival, ‘Better Off Dead’ Sweeps Indonesian Screen Awards 3 hours ago Deepa Mehta Reflects on Career, ‘Water’ Controversy and Staying Independent at Singapore Film Festival 19 hours ago India Multiplex Association Opposes Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal: ‘A Meaningful Reduction in High-Quality Content for Cinemas’ 20 hours ago See All Gregg DeGuire/Variety Oscar-winning Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung opened up about her remarkable six-decade career during an In Conversation event at the Singapore International Film Festival, sharing candid insights about her unconventional start in the industry, her formative relationship with director Kim Ki-young, and the challenges she overcame to achieve international recognition. The 78-year-old actor, recipient of the festival’s Screen Icon Award, participated in a wide-ranging discussion with local actors Rebecca Lim and Janice Koh that touched on everything from her 1971 debut film “Woman of Fire” to her recent Hollywood projects, including the Oscar-winning “Minari.” Related Stories 'The Handmaid's Tale' Sequel 'The Testaments' First Look: Chase Infiniti and a New Generation of Gilead Women Fight for Freedom White House Trolls Sabrina Carpenter With Second Pro-ICE Video, Alters 'SNL' Clip to Have Her 'Arrest' Marcello Hernández for 'Being Too Illegal' Youn revealed that her entry into acting was entirely accidental, stemming from a failed university entrance exam in the 1960s.