Yuh-Jung Youn Oscars 2021
Yuh-Jung at the 2021 Academy Awards.
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  • Yuh-Jung Youn won best supporting actress for "Minari" at the Oscars on Sunday.
  • She's the first South Korean actress to win an acting category in the award show's 93-year history.
  • Youn delivered a delightful speech, poking fun at presenter Brad Pitt and her two sons.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Yuh-Jung Youn made history by winning best supporting actress for "Minari" at the 93rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday, becoming the first South Korean actress to take home an Oscar in an acting category.

When the 73-year-old star ascended to the Union Station stage to deliver her acceptance speech, she turned the attention to Brad Pitt, who presented the category moments earlier.

"Mr. Brad Pitt, finally," Youn began. "Nice to meet you. Where were you when we were filming in person?"

Pitt's company, Plan B Entertainment, produced director Lee Isaac Chung's "Minari." Youn's comment seemed to imply that the "Moneyball" actor didn't visit the "Minari" set while the film was in production in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2019.

Youn chuckled at her comment and remarked that she was "very honored" to meet Pitt.

Youn Yuh-jung
Youn Yuh-jung won an Oscar for best supporting actress.
ABC/Getty Images

The actress, who played the grandmother in "Minari," went on to explain that most award-show attendees mispronounce her name. "Tonight, you are all forgiven," she said.

Youn thanked her "'Minari' family" and called Chung her "captain." She also paid tribute to her fellow best-supporting actress nominees - Glenn Close ("Hillbilly Elegy"), Amanda Seyfried ("Mank"), Olivia Colman ("The Father"), and Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm").

"I don't believe in competition. How can I win over Glenn Close?" Youn asked, reasoning that each of the nominees played "different roles" and "cannot compete" with each other.

According to the South Korean actress, her victory was partially attributed to "luck."

"I'm luckier than you," she told the nominees in the audience. "And also maybe, it's American hospitality for the Korean actor."

Before ending her speech, Youn dedicated the award to the first director she ever worked with, saying he would be "very happy" to see her win. She also thanked her two sons.

"This is the result," she joked, holding up the statuette. "Because Mommy worked so hard."

After wrapping up her acceptance speech, Youn exited to greet Pitt backstage.

Youn, who has made a splash this season with victories at the BAFTA Awards and Screen Actor Guild Awards, previously described the pressure that accompanied her Oscars nomination.

"I was just very happy being nominated," she said, per Indiewire. "I never even dreamed about being nominated for an Oscar. People will be very happy for me if I get the win, but it's very stressful."

Because a South Korean actress had never been nominated in an acting category at the Academy Awards before, Youn said the recognition felt like it had wider significance.

"It's not like I'm representing the country by going to the Olympics, but I feel like I'm competing for my country," she said.

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