Pachinko's Minha Kim on Sunja and Hansu's Relationship: 'It's the Most Powerful Love That She Experienced'

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[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Pachinko Season 2, Episode 4, "Chapter Twelve." Read at your own risk!]

One of the most impressive things about Pachinko is the chemistry between any combination of its actors. Though the Apple TV+ series is a sweeping drama with a large ensemble cast, its best moments are the intimate exchanges between two characters. And one pairing has served as the show's emotional anchor since the beginning. I am, of course, talking about Minha Kim's Sunja and Lee Minho's Hansu. Their relationship has quietly propelled the story, and in the fourth episode of Pachinko Season 2, titled "Chapter Twelve," tensions are brought to the foreground when Hansu teaches Sunja to drive for the first time. 

"It's the moment that she becomes a girl again," Kim told TV Guide, explaining why she loved the scene. In a rare instance when Sunja is away from her family, she takes control of the steering wheel — with Hansu's guidance — and smiles as the wind hits her face. "She's finally just out of her work," Kim said. "And she feels all the breeze." It's also a side of Sunja we haven't seen in a while. "Remember that she's always full of curiosity in Season 1," Kim explained. "That appears again [here]." 

ALSO READ: Pachinko's Minha Kim says Isak is 'giving another extra life to Sunja' in heartbreaking scene

Not only is driving a key moment for Sunja, but the experience also clearly brings her and Hansu closer together. "When she drives, I'm sure that for Hansu and Sunja, they were thinking about 16 years ago when they were young, and when they love[d] each other," Kim said. 

That raises the question: Does Kim think Hansu and Sunja still love each other at this point in the story? "I tried to resist it while I was portraying Sunja; I couldn't," Kim shared. "I think it's that powerful — it's the most powerful love that she experienced." At the end of this driving scene, the pair start to make out before they're interrupted. The actor said that for so long, Sunja has been trying to erase her memories of Hansu. "But she can't," Kim explained. "The affection still remains this entire season."

That affection doesn't take away from Sunja's love for her recently deceased husband, Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh), though. Asked about how Sunja's emotions toward Isak compare to those toward Hansu, Kim said that was the question she hoped to figure out while preparing for this season. "Love with Isak is more like rational love," Kim shared. "It's full of appreciation, and it's full of the bright side of love." 

With Hansu, the feelings are completely different. "The reason why I'm saying it's so powerful is that it's painful, and it's more like instinct and her body reacts," Kim said. "She cannot control herself when she's with Hansu; it's that powerful and painful." Though the scene ended with Sunja walking away from Hansu after the kiss, it's clear they won't be apart for long. 

ALSO READ: Pachinko Season 2 review: Apple TV+'s epic, intimate family drama is richer than ever

The first four episodes of Pachinko Season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+.