Steven Yeun

While pursuing a psychology degree at Kalamazoo College, Yeun took an interest in theater and improv. In his senior year, a stranger’s encouragement after a stage reading was all the affirmation he needed to make a serious go of it.

“It’s just that when Korea approaches me about a project it’s usually missing a component of, like, ‘What does an Asian man do in this situation?’” he said.

“What was wonderful about working in South Korea is, you know, you kind of feel the fullness of yourself for a second,” he added. “You don’t have to be reminded of your otherness there, and that is a very freeing feeling. You don’t realize how oppressive that is until you experience not experiencing that.”

Article