On May 2nd, this year’s Met Gala event was held with a theme paying homage to a quintessential era of American history, the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age marked a period of rapid economic growth in America due to industrialization and the influx of foreign – largely Chinese and European –  immigrants that contributed largely to the labor force of that time. This is why it only made sense to see the numerous Asian celebrities make their way onto the infamous red carpet at New York City’s very own Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Like every other year, the 2022 Met Gala is held as a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and only the elite are invited to grace those iconic Met stairs while donned in elegantly designed attire. Prior to recent years, it was a bit more uncommon to see Asian faces on the attendance roster. However, with the surge of K-Pop and Asian-centered films such as “Parasite,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” and most recently “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” fans are starting to see more familiar faces at high-profile events.

Spectators of the Gala were buzzing at the appearances of Asian and Asian American celebrities such as Grammy award winner Olivia Rodrigo, Youtuber-turned-hit-musician Conan Gray, “The Venom” star Riz Ahmed, “Crazy Rich Asian” actress Gemma Chan, Chinese-American Olympian Eileen Gu and many more.

Actress and model Hoyeon Jung from “Squid Game” graced the red carpet wearing a cutout Louis Vuitton mini-dress and natural makeup inspired by the oil paintings from the Gilded Age. Her prep team entirely consisted of Korean staff, and her makeup artist, Nina Park, even told Vogue, “We feel deeply connected and proud to not only support Hoyeon but also see how amazing it is for the world to take notice of and support a Korean actress and show. It feels like family and is so surreal.”

Another A-lister to attend was NCT’s Johnny Suh, donning a three-piece satin suit designed by Peter Do. The Chicago-born K-Pop star told Vogue, “Growing up as a teenager in the States, I’ve always seen all of the stars I loved attending.” Do, a Vietnamese-American designer, joined him on the red carpet. He expressed his attention to detail when it came to constructing the outfit and explained, “We took the traditional satin lapel of a tuxedo—which was popularized throughout America in the Gilded Age—and decided to render the whole suit in a sleek black silk crepe backed satin.”

Not only did this event open up doors for Asian and Asian American celebrities but it spotlighted the many amazing Asian staff and designers who took part in bringing all these looks together. Seeing how foreign immigrants played a big role in building the foundations of the U.S., the representation of Asian American and Pacific Islander groups in events emphasizing American culture proves to be important.

JULIE KIM

ASIA JOURNAL

By now, viewers everywhere have all been on the “Squid Game” bandwagon; whether it’s participating in viral TikTok trends or cosplaying as the characters for costume parties, the Netflix hit series has taken the world by storm. Recently, at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, “Squid Game” has reached a new height of recognition as the first foreign-language series to win multiple awards.

Not only did the show take home Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama series, actor Lee Jung-Jae won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama and actress Jung Ho-Yeon won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama. Both individuals exhibited surprise and joy at the announcement, as they made their acceptance speeches.

“Thank you, SAG Awards,” Lee said graciously, “and thank you to the global audience for all of your love for ‘Squid Game.’ Thank you ‘Squid Game’ team.”

Jung Ho-Yeon tearfully stepped up to the podium, absolutely floored by the results. “First and foremost, thank you so much. I have sat many times watching the actors in front of me through a screen dreaming of becoming an actress myself. The fact that I am standing in this position today is such an honor to me,” she said before concluding with, “I love you ‘Squid Game’ team!”

Given the surge of popularity the series garnered late last year, the results didn’t come as a surprise to many. E! News reported that as of October 28, 2021, the Netflix show landed at the top of streaming rankings as it was streamed over 3 billion minutes over the course of a week. This is an amazing feat, considering that this beat out a record that was previously held by widely popular shows such as “Bridgerton.”

Following Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite” as another Korean title to win a SAG award, “Squid Game” is expected to continue to garner more positive attention as it was recently confirmed by director Hwang Dong-Hyuk that there would be a second season. Although there is no official release date, we can hopefully expect the series’ continuation on small screens soon. Lee Jung-Jae himself has even stated to PEOPLE, “A second season has become inevitable in a way . . . we can’t not do one now, because we’ve received so much love all across the world.”

The success of “Squid Game” has especially resonated with South Koreans as the plot deeply reflects on the ongoing trials and tribulations of the country’s socioeconomic divides. Many of the characters have ended up in a literal life-or-death predicament due to their desperation to survive in a society that can often promote putting financial gain over humanity. However, such issues aren’t limited to falling into the hands of South Korean residents. People all around the world found themselves as victims of capitalism, which may be why the series has been so well-received on a global scale.

JULIE Kim

Asia Journal