'Beef' Season 2: Charles Melton Says "I Lived in Korea for About 6 Years―Proud to Be Korean"

Actor Charles Melton says filming "Beef" Season 2 reignited his pride in being Korean American.

Speaking to Korean press via video call on the morning of the 7th, Melton shared, “This project let me talk about Korean things, so it felt like going home. I was also thrilled that part of Season 2 was shot in Korea,” adding, “I actually lived in Korea for about six years when I was young.”

He continued, “My mother is Korean and immigrated to the U.S. when she was young. She became a U.S. citizen when I was 11,” opening up about his roots.

Melton said it was an honor to join the second season of "Beef", which explores Korean American stories, and to work with Korean American director Lee Sung-jin.
Praising Lee’s direction, he said, “I love Korean cinema. I’m a fan of Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, and I’ve seen films like 'Memories of Murder,' 'Mother,' and 'Parasite.' I think Lee Sung-jin might be their artistic son. He helped bring Korean film artistry to the West. There are no limits to his art. Through "Beef", he tackled not only identity but also humanity in the face of capitalism. I owe him for giving me a space to show my performance.”

When Melton called him the “artistic son” of Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, Lee Sung-jin laughed it off: “You can’t say that. That’s blasphemy.”

Born to an American father and a Korean mother, Melton started as a model before transitioning to acting. In 2023, he drew critical attention for "May December" opposite Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. His performance earned him 22 acting prizes, including at the Gotham Awards and the National Society of Film Critics, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor that year.

During a past visit to Korea, Melton also appeared on SBS "Nightline" and said, “Since my mother once immigrated to the U.S., I now hope, as a Korean American and as an actor, to serve as a bridge between Korean and American cinema.”
In "Beef" Season 2, a project that let him express his heritage, he plays Austin, a low-ranking country club employee, embodying the show’s themes of identity and capitalism.

Asked for a final message to reporters, he said, “My name is Charles Melton, and I’m proud to be Korean,” before adding in Korean, “Thank you.”

"Beef" Season 2 is set at an exclusive country club. After a young couple witnesses a shocking fight between their boss and his wife, a fierce game of persuasion and pressure unfolds among the two couples and the club’s owner, a Korean billionaire. Season 1 (2023) became one of the year’s most acclaimed series, winning three Golden Globes, eight Primetime Emmys, and four Critics Choice Awards.

Season 2 features Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Jang Seo-yeon, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, William Pitzner, Mikaela Hoover, and BM, and promises an even deeper story than Season 1. "Beef" Season 2 premieres April 16 on Netflix. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)