[Comprehensive] 'Ojingeo Game' Achieves 6 Wins at the US Emmy Awards... Historic First Win for a Non-English Language Series

Korea's First Emmy Awards Double Win and Four Creative Arts Emmy Awards Records

Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of the drama "Squid Game," is holding the trophy after receiving the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award at the 74th Emmy Awards ceremony held on the 12th (local time) at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, USA. He won the honor over other strong nominees such as Jeremy Strong, Jason Bateman, and Brian Cox.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Netflix original series "Squid Game" made history as the first non-English language drama to win both the Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Directing awards at the Emmy Awards, the most prestigious event in the American television industry, securing a total of six awards.

On the 12th local time (the 13th Korean time), the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the United States announced director Hwang Donghyuk as the winner of the Outstanding Directing award at the 74th Emmy Awards ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Director Hwang was nominated for both Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing. He triumphed over strong contenders such as Ben Stiller (Severance), Mark Mylod (Succession), Cathy Yan (Succession), Lauren Scafaria (Succession), Karyn Kusama (Yellowjackets), and Jason Bateman (Ozark) to take home the trophy.

Upon hearing his name called, Director Hwang took the stage and said, "'Squid Game' is said to be the first non-English language drama to ever win an Emmy, but I don't think I made history alone. We made history together, not just me."

On the 12th (local time), at the 74th Emmy Awards ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, USA, director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who won the Best Director award in the drama category for "Ojingeo Game" (Squid Game), is seen holding the trophy with joy.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "I hope this is not my last Emmy. I will be back with Season 2."

Lee Jungjae became the first actor of Korean and Asian nationality to win the Outstanding Lead Actor award.

Lee Jungjae competed against nominees such as Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox (Succession), Adam Scott (Severance), Jason Bateman (Ozark), and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), ultimately earning the honor. He had been considered the frontrunner for the award, having won Outstanding Lead Actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Spirit Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards.

In his acceptance speech, Lee Jungjae said, "I want to share this joy with the people of Korea watching at home, my friends, family, and precious fans."

Unfortunately, Oh Youngsoo and Park Hae-soo, who were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Jung Ho-yeon, nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress, did not win. The Outstanding Supporting Actor award went to Matthew Macfadyen for "Succession," and the Outstanding Supporting Actress award was given to Julia Garner for "Ozark."

The lead actors of the drama "Squid Game," Lee Jung-jae (left) and Jung Ho-yeon, are presenting the award for "Variety Sketch Series" at the 74th Emmy Awards ceremony held on the 12th (local time) at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, USA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Drama Series awards were won by HBO's "Succession," the strongest competitor.

"Squid Game" had previously won four awards at the Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held on the 4th, including Outstanding Supporting Actress (Lee Yoo-mi), Production Design, Stunt Performance, and Visual Effects, bringing its total to six awards.

Marking a historic achievement as the first non-English language drama to win Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Lead Actor at the Emmys, "Squid Game" is currently in the process of writing Season 2, as Director Hwang revealed in his acceptance speech.

The Emmy Awards, established in 1949 and hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), are the highest honors in the American television industry and are often referred to as the "Academy Awards of television."