Writer/director Lee Isaac Chung is Korean American himself and grew up on a farm in Arkansas, so it is clear he drew from personal experience when writing and creating Minari. Despite not immigrating or living in the states, Korean actress Yeri Han still has personal connections to the film. Her connections to the script have to do with family; the way she was raised along with the memories that she holds. What’s so beautiful about this is that while Han and Chung have Korean roots in common, having similar childhoods is the thread that connects their experiences to this script, and that aspect can be universal, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.
How Minari Represents The Korean Experience, According To The Film’s Star
