Tiffany Young, known by many for her singing, showcases her expanding talents with her role as Rachel Jung in Disney+ and Hulu’s recent K-Drama, Uncle Samsik.
Primarily known in Korea for her musical career, Young dives into acting, proving her versatility in Uncle Samsik.
Set in early 1960s Korea, the series features Young as a director leading the Albright Foundation’s projects. Rachel Jeong emerges as a strong leader within the narrative.
Characters Uncle Samsik (Song Kang-Ho) and Kim San (Byun Yo-Han) fight for Korean freedom and peace, Jeong stands her ground, adding another compelling dimension to the story.
The Knockturnal recently had the chance to chat with Young via Zoom, discussing her portrayal of Rachel Jeong, finding the character within the script, collaborating with renowned K-drama actors, and her future acting aspirations!
You can read the full interview below or watch our interview with Young!
This conversation has been edited for clarity. Watch the full interview for more!
The Knockturnal: Hi, Tiffany. It’s so nice to meet you!
Tiffany Young: Hi Emma!
I am such a big fan! I’m excited to chat about Uncle Samsik. Your portrayal of Rachel is super powerful, and I’m sure a lot comes with preparing for that kind of role, especially for the era Uncle Samsik takes place in. My first question is, what challenges did you find in embodying a character during this specific time period, for Rachel being a woman with such a leadership role?
Tiffany: Thank you! It definitely took a lot of research, especially about both the countries and cultures. I think the most important thing for me was to find that quiet power. It wasn’t about being loud or in-your-face, which is how we often think of female empowerment today. I wanted to go the opposite – did a lot of research on the first ladies and how they spoke, and even how actresses acted around that era. It was important to dig deep into Rachel’s psychology to understand why she has this quiet power. It comes from her longing to belong, to find a partner, and to fulfill the goals of a woman in that time, which would be to be a successful housewife or a presentable wife. But she is also really clinging onto how she takes up space in the political / survival setting of 1960s Korea. There wasn’t too much on Rachel specifically, but really digging into Kim San and Uncle Samsik helped me develop Rachel’s personality and reactions.
That’s amazing! You can tell how much research you portray Rachel so flawlessly!
Tiffany: Thank you!
You mentioned you didn’t know too much about Rachel at the beginning. But while acting the part, was there anything surprising that you learned about Rachel or even yourself?
Tiffany: I was surprised, but I think everybody else was surprised including Director Shin and John, who plays Kim San! How I took on the scene, “I’m looking to creating a better leader in Korea,” that scene. Those words could’ve been too on the nose for me, the scene could have been like, “If you choose me, you get the Albright Foundation.” I felt it was important to make it more authentic, like a conversation rather than a scripted dialogue. I think that was a surprise, that it could’ve been presenting certain words, but I wanted to make sure it felt like a real conversation. When I was reading that script I felt seen and I wanted to be supported. When I first got casted, that was the first scene I mentioned to John. I was like, “Hey, I need you. This is more than just a female coming into this world and shaking it up. It is having a purpose and that longing where dreaming together will help us achieve something together.” I think that was the surprising point!
You can hear more about this answer in the full interview.
Speaking of the people you worked with, you were surrounded by so many K-Drama icons! How was that experience?
Tiffany: I was a fly on the wall on this set! I was busy taking in every person’s scene and studying each department. Apart from the cast – the whole team from departments like lighting, sound, cinematography, set design, and hair and makeup. Everyone was incredible, and it was amazing to study and analyze.
*Listen to more on this question in the interview*
That’s amazing! You’re really getting into the whole acting realm right now with Uncle Samsik and Chicago – so cool! Are there any specific genres or characters you’d love to play in the future?
Tiffany: Having a musical background, and now a musical theatre background and doing TV – I am very interested in doing a film because of the format and how it’s put together and the pacing. Doing something music related is always my comfort zone, but also, I am a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro and his world of dark fantasy and how beautiful, in a way violet it is! Exploring dark fantasy, I am open to everything and anything!
Ooo! I really hope that happens for you Tiffany!
Tiffany: Amen!
I’m looking forward to seeing that. I always love including a fun question – since Samsik’s direct translation is “Three meals a day.” If you could design your own three course mean, what would it be?
Tiffany: A strong three course meal would be… a strong salad, a good protein source, and a good dessert at the end – or it might be a drink!
To close everything off, Uncle Samsik has been gaining global recognition because of streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+. As a Korean-American yourself who’s always championed global connection, even back in your idol days to now with acting, how does this specific international success feel for you at this time?
Tiffany: Thank you so much. I’m a huge Disney+ and Hulu fan myself, so to be on that catalog full of really really cool and amazing projects, I am just thrilled! I hope I can join more. But your choice of worlds, ‘global connection,’ that is so important. I am really excited to open this part of my career with something that is so authentic that it is the story of our grandparents and our roots – something I really wanted to learn and know. I hope this creates conversation, curiosity and more opportunities not just for myself but for everybody in the future!
Thank you, Tiffany! Talk to you soon!
Tiffany: Talk to you soon. Thank you!
You can catch Tiffany Young in Uncle Samsik, which just concluded its first season finale on June 19th. The drama is available to stream on both Hulu and Disney+!
