Netflix's 'Beef' wins eight accolades at Primetime Emmy Awards

This marks the first time that the Best Actor and Best Actress awards have simultaneously gone to Asian American actors. Wong’s win on Tuesday marks the first time for a female actor of Asian descent to win Best Actress.

From left, actors Young Mazino, Maria Bello, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, and Joseph Lee hold awards as they pose together at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Netflix original series “Beef,” lead by a Korean American director and featuring Asian American actors, won eight trophies at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards Tuesday.

At this year’s Emmys, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, “Beef” won the Best Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Award, while Korean American director Lee Sung-jin won Best Director and Best Writing and Korean American actor Steven Yeun won Best Actor. Actor Ali Wong, who starred opposite Yeun, won Best Actress, and “Beef” also took home prizes in the casting, wardrobe and editing categories.

This marks the first time that the Best Actor and Best Actress awards have simultaneously gone to Asian American actors. Wong’s win on Tuesday marks the first time for a female actor of Asian descent to win Best Actress.

In 2022, Korean actor Lee Jung-jae won a Best Actor award for the Netflix mega-hit series “Squid Game” (2021), becoming the first actor of Asian descent to win the prestigious television award.

Korean American director Lee Sung-jin speaks onstage after receiving an award during the 75th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. California on Tuesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

“Beef,” written and directed by Lee, surrounds two Asian Americans, played by Yeun and Wong, who get into a series of violent altercations with each other and end up nearly ruining each other’s lives. The show has been praised for its sharp dialogue, black-comedy elements and socially relevant themes such as racial and class warfare and the detachment and loneliness felt by people living in modern society.

“A lot of suicidal ideation in this show was based on stuff that I and some of the folks up here have struggled with over the years,” director Lee said during his acceptance speech Tuesday. “So I’m really grateful and humbled by everyone who watched the show and reached out about their own personal struggles. It’s very life-affirming, so thank you.

A scene from the Netflix original series "Beef" [NETFLIX]

“I feel like we live in a world designed to kind of keep us separate,” he continued. “Even here, some of us go home with trophies, other people don’t. I think for some of us when we live in a world like this, you begin to think there’s no way anyone can ever understand you or like you, or much less no potential at being loved. So the greatest joy of working on ‘Beef’ has truly been working with the folks up here who loved so unconditionally.”

Yeun also thanked the cast and crew of “Beef” and called for compassion and grace from everyone when living their daily lives.

“There were days when it was difficult to live in [my character] Danny’s skin,” Yeun said. “Sometimes I wanted to judge him, sometimes I wanted to make fun of him. I want to thank Danny for teaching me that judgment and shame is a lonely place, but compassion and grace is where we can all meet.”

Actor Steven Yeun accepts the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for ″Beef″ at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

“Beef” also won three awards — Best Television Series, Best Actor and Best Actress — at the Golden Globes earlier this month, and four more at the Critics’ Choice Awards last Sunday.

Although the series ended quite conclusively, Lee hinted that there could be a second season of “Beef” during his backstage press briefing with reporters Tuesday.

“I feel like there are so many paths. It could stay limited — it was a very close-ended story for sure, but if Netflix wanted to continue, it could also be anthology,” Lee told reporters. “It could be many things. It’s up to the great algorithm. We’re all waiting to hear.”

Lee signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix in November last year, according to the streaming service.

Actor Steven Yeun as Danny Cho in the Netflix original series "Beef" [NETFLIX]

Yeun, whose Korean name is Yeun Sang-yeop, rose to prominence for playing recurring character Glenn Rhee in the AMC television series “The Walking Dead” (2010-21). He subsequently starred in a number of critically acclaimed films such as “Okja” (2017), “Burning” (2018) and the 2020 drama film “Minari,” which earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

Wong, who started her career in stand-up comedy, ventured into television and film by starring in supporting roles in indie films and screenwriting for shows such as “Fresh Off the Boat” (2015-20). She played opposite Korean American Randall Park in the 2019 Netflix film “Always Be My Maybe.”

Lee was born in Seoul before immigrating to the United States. He has directed episodes for television shows such as "Silicon Valley" (2014–19), "2 Broke Girls" (2011–17) and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (2005–). His next project is the Marvel Studios film "Thunderbolts," also starring Yeun.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]