Actor Park Ji-hyun has earned a Best Performance by an Actress nomination at the 54th International Emmy Awards for her work in the Netflix series 은중과 상연, marking the first time a South Korean female actor has secured a nomination in an individual acting category at the event, according to announcements made by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on Sept. 23.
International Emmy Nominations Span 22 Countries
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences finalized 64 nominees across 16 categories, drawing entries from 22 countries for the 54th annual event. Unlike the Primetime Emmy Awards managed by the Television Academy in the United States, the International Emmys focus exclusively on television programming produced outside the United States. Park secured one of the four final slots in the Best Performance by an Actress race following her performance in the Netflix original series.
The nomination represents a milestone for Korean performers on the global stage. Winners will be announced during the final ceremony scheduled for Nov. 23 in New York City.
Global Competitors in the Actress Category
Park competes against three international actors for the Best Performance by an Actress trophy. The opposing nominees include Mona Mina Leon for the Belgian drama Holy Sh!t, Bárbara Mori for the Mexican series Lucca’s World, and Sheridan Smith for the British drama I Fought the Law. The four nominees represent distinct language markets and production styles, highlighting the global reach of the International Emmys.
Character Arc and Narrative Structure in 은중과 상연
Released globally in September last year, 은중과 상연 explores the complex relationship between two lifelong friends, Ryu Eun-jung and Cheon Sang-yeon, who experience shifting dynamics of mutual admiration, jealousy, and affection across decades. Kim Go-eun stars as Ryu Eun-jung, while Park Ji-hyun portrays Cheon Sang-yeon. The narrative focuses on psychological depth and the long-term evolution of a friendship rather than fast-paced genre hooks.
Park’s portrayal required transitions spanning the character’s 20s, 30s, and 40s. The role demanded a careful shift in emotional maturity and worldview as the character aged, an aspect of the performance that drew recognition from International Emmy judges.
Previous Accolades and South Korean Representation
The international nomination builds on prior domestic and regional recognition for the series. In May, 은중과 상연 won the awards for Best Drama Series and Best Screenplay at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards. The production subsequently captured the Best Creative Award at the Global OTT Awards in June. This trajectory illustrates how domestic critical approval is translating into global awards recognition.
South Korean content secured a second nomination at the upcoming International Emmys. The Disney+ series Hyper Knife, starring Park Eun-bin and Sul Kyung-gu, earned a nomination in the TV Movie/Mini-Series category. It competes against Spain’s The Anatomy of a Moment, Brazil’s Oxygen Mask Will Not Drop Down Automatically, and the British production Prisoner 951. Both Korean projects will learn their final standings at the Nov. 23 ceremony in New York.