News | Entertainment
21 Jan 2026 15:00
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Daniel Dae Kim confronted the creators of 'Lost' about the way his character on the show played on Asian stereotypes

    The 52-year-old actor starred in the TV series as Jin-Soo Kwon and advocated to have his alter ego and his wife Sun (played by Yunjin Kim) evolve as characters after the pilot episode of the programme in 2004


    The relationship between the couple was criticised at first as it played into the Asian stereotype of dominant husband and submissive wife, and Daniel urged the show's creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof to develop the parts.

    He said: "My greatest fear was that the pilot of 'Lost' would air, but the series would not – because if you were to see the pilot as the totality of my character, you would have been left with that stereotype.

    "While we were shooting, I remember sitting down with Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams and saying, 'Guys, this character cannot progress in the same way.' They basically said, 'Trust us.' I did, and it turned out for the best."

    Despite his initial reservations, Daniel admitted he signed on for the show with the intention of "working within the system" to make positive changes.

    He added: "As an Asian actor, you're just looking to get hired. It's about working within the system to try and change it when you have the opportunity.

    "The character grew to a place where I don't think you'd call him a stereotype by the end."

    The 'Hawaii Five-0' star also opened up on the steps 'Lost' bosses took to make sure the Korean dialogue, along with his accent, was perfect in the show.

    Daniel told Vulture: "The way the dialogue was put together was they would write it in English and then I would go to someone in Hawaii and translate it together with that person. Then I would learn in it Korean.

    "So it was the work of going through the translation process and then thinking about the Korean of it, the pronunciation, and then going back and thinking about the character and his mannerisms as a Korean person as opposed to an American person, which, obviously, I am. I think it would be obvious to most Koreans watching if I didn't do that work.

    "I don't think you can question the positive effect 'Lost' had on representation."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Jan: Emilia Clarke suffered a broken rib filming sex scenes for her new series Ponies
     21 Jan: Wayne Brady hopes that coming out as pansexual helps others to feel comfortable about themselves
     21 Jan: Shannen Doherty's ex-husband is fighting the late actress' estate over money claims
     21 Jan: Priscilla Presley thinks Elvis Presley would still be touring if he was alive today
     21 Jan: Roger Waters has defended his Ozzy Osbourne comments following the late rocker's death in July
     21 Jan: Pamela Anderson blames Tommy Lee's wife for their estrangement
     21 Jan: Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are "done romantically"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Black Sticks women's coach Phil Burrows is eager to see internal competition at this week's four-team international tournament in Dunedin More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Pic's Peanut Butter is boasting huge financial success, with sales reaching 40-million dollars More...



     Today's News

    Netball:
    The Southern Steel have appointed highly credentialed Australian Jess Whitfort as an assistant coach for the 2026 ANZ netball season 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Emilia Clarke suffered a broken rib filming sex scenes for her new series Ponies 14:40

    Rugby League:
    Aussie rugby seems to have stolen another NRL star from the Roosters 14:27

    Hockey:
    Black Sticks women's coach Phil Burrows is eager to see internal competition at this week's four-team international tournament in Dunedin 14:27

    International:
    A year into Trump's second term, the Supreme Court's docket is full of legal challenges 14:17

    Entertainment:
    Wayne Brady hopes that coming out as pansexual helps others to feel comfortable about themselves 14:10

    National:
    New study sheds light on the threat of ‘marine darkwaves’ to ocean life 14:07

    Law and Order:
    A man has been arrested accused of ramming a stolen hatchback into a Police patrol vehicle in Auckland 13:47

    Entertainment:
    Shannen Doherty's ex-husband is fighting the late actress' estate over money claims 13:40

    Entertainment:
    Priscilla Presley thinks Elvis Presley would still be touring if he was alive today 13:10


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd