"Squid Game" actors Lee Jung-jae (left) and Jung Ho-yeon on Feb. 27 each won individual honors at the U.S. Screen Actors Guild Awards held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

Actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon of the Netflix smash TV series "Squid Game" have each earned major awards from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) of the U.S.

At the awards ceremony on Feb. 27 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, Lee won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and Jung Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

Lee and Jung are the first Koreans to clinch the SAG Awards for best actor and actress for a performance in a TV drama and the first to win such honors from a program not in English.

Lee, who played the series protagonist Seong Gi-hun, defeated strong candidates such as Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong of "Succession" and Billy Crudup of "The Morning Show."

At the ceremony, Lee said, "Thank you so much to everyone around the world who loved 'Squid Game' and thank you so much to the 'Squid Game' team."

Jung, who played North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok in the drama, beat out for her honor Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon of "The Morning Show," Elisabeth Moss of "The Handmaid's Tale" and Sarah Snook of "Succession."

"I dreamed of becoming an actor as I watched many of you here," Jung said. "Just being at this venue is truly an honor and thank you so much."

"Squid Game" also won the SAG Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a TV series.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr