At the Oscars, Choi joined Bong onstage four times: as he accepted the awards for best director, original screenplay and international feature, and to interpret for Kwak Sin Ae, a producer, in her speech for the film’s best picture win.

Choi has been at Bong’s side since May — when “Parasite” won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival — according to The Korea Herald, an English language newspaper in South Korea.

For someone who’s appeared on several awards stages and live television broadcasts, though, Choi doesn’t seem to cherish being in the spotlight — “This is so embarrassing,” she said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the Golden Globes last month when the questions pivoted to her.

But Choi has ended up there anyway, thanks to the visibility that comes with critical success and awards domination: “Parasite,” after winning at Cannes, also nabbed best foreign film at the Golden Globes, the Writers Guild Award for original screenplay and best ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Bong has another explanation: “She’s perfect, and we all depend on her,” he said in English in The Hollywood Reporter interview. “And she’s also a great filmmaker,” he added. (Choi laughed: “Yes, I want to direct.”)