By Xu Aiying
Video = Official YouTube channel of U.S. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 

The hit Netflix drama "Beef," whose director and several cast members are of Korean descent, has won eight Primetime Emmys, one of the top honors in American broadcasting, including best limited series and best male and female actors. 

At this year's awards ceremony on Jan. 15 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the series won the top prize for a limited or anthology series.

Korean American director Lee Seung Jin won the Emmys for directing and writing, while actor Steven Yeun, who plays the protagonist Danny, earned the honor for best actor in a limited series and his co-star Ali Wong, an American of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, took best actress. The series' other prizes were Creative Arts Emmys for outstanding casting, contemporary costumes and picture editing.

"A lot of the suicidal ideations in this show was based on stuff that I and some of the folks up here have struggled with over the years," Lee, who wrote and produced the drama, said in his acceptance speech. "So I'm really grateful and humbled by everyone who watched the show and reached out about their own personal struggles."

The cast and crew of the hit Netflix drama "Beef" on Jan. 15 pose for photos after winning eight Primetime Emmys at the awards ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Yonhap News)

Yeun beat out for his best actor award competitors like Taron Egerton for "Black Bird," Evan Peters for "The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" and Daniel Radcliffe for "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

After accepting the award, Yeun said, "I want to say thank you to Danny for teaching me that judgment and shame is a lonely place, but compassion and grace is where we can all meet."

The 10-episode series shows what happens when a minor incident of road rage between Danny and Amy (Wong) escalates into an extreme revenge contest.

Acclaimed for its high production values and acting performances, "Beef" earlier this month in the U.S. won the Golden Globes for best male and female lead actors and best limited series and the Critics Choice Awards for best limited series and best actor, actress and supporting actress.

xuaiy@korea.kr