Pachinko season 2 has left fans of the show with some burning questions. The drama series revolves around the extraordinary lives of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. While the story of the second installment is generating discussions, a cast change in the series has left fans confused. He is none other than the replacement for the character of Baek Noa, also known as Noa. So, What happened to Noa in Pachinko season 2?And who plays the role now?
Here you will find everything you need to know about the character and his replacement in the series.
Why does Noa look so different in the second season of Pachinko?
Noa has been recast in the show to represent a teenage version of the character.
Pachinko season 2 premiered on August 23, 2024, but the replacement of Noa, previously played by Park Jae-jun, left viewers confused. Now, actor Kim Kang-hoon has taken on the character to bring his teenage version to life.
As fans know, the character has appeared several times in the series, given its generational storyline. His adult version is played by Kang Tae-Joo. So this sudden change in Noa's character is not surprising.
Why did Kim Kang-hoon replace Park Jae-jun's Noa in Pachinko season 2?
Kim Kang-hoon replaced Park Jae-jun's Noa in Pachinko season 2 because the show took a time jump.
Season 2 has moved forward several years in the show's timeline, with Noa evolving into a teenager. Park Jae-jun is nine years old and the filmmakers needed a teenager to play the character after the time jump. As such, Kim Kang-hoon came on board to play the adult Noa.
In his interview with Entertainment Weeklyshowrunner Soo Hugh had this to say about the character: “That child had to endure a lot. We begin to see how that weight begins to sink him a little. It's a very nuanced performance for that character because if you do it too much in one direction, he just becomes whiny and unbearable, and if you do it too much in the other direction, he just becomes pathetic. So we talked a lot about finding the humanity in Noa. [This season sets up some things that are] really devastating for him.”
Pachinko Season 2 is streaming on Apple TV Plus.