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On January 6, 2025, Korea JoongAng Daily reported that South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, renowned for his portrayal of Seong Gi-hun in Netflix's Squid Game, recently disclosed that his agency had advised him against accepting the role that catapulted him to international fame.
Lee Jung-jae shared that his company felt that the character was "too big of a loser" for him to play it. However, the actor revealed that the unique narrative of the plot ultimately convinced him to take on the project.
“It wasn’t just a typical survival game story. The script highlighted the characters' struggles and emotions. That theme stood out to me, and I really wanted to take on the role.”
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In the interview with Korea JoongAng Daily, Lee Jung-jae added that he kept asking the Squid Game director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, if there would be a sequel. Reflecting on his discussion with the director, he said:
“During the filming of season one, I asked director Hwang several times whether there would be a season two. And Hwang kept saying that there wouldn’t be a new season, so I honestly didn’t expect it at all. Since we're in the final stages of season three's production, I feel that carefully listening to more opinions, we’ll be able to wrap up season three even better.”
Disclaimer: The article contains spoilers from Squid Games.
Lee Jung-jae's character in Squid Game series explored
In the Squid Game series, Lee Jung-jae embodied Seong Gi-hun, designated as Player 456—the final participant in a deadly competition. Gi-hun's life was marred by financial ruin, stemming from a crippling gambling addiction.
In season 1, living with his elderly mother, he struggled to provide for his young daughter and faced relentless pressure from loan sharks. His fortunes appeared to change when he was invited to participate in a series of children's games, promising a substantial cash prize. Unbeknownst to him, failure in these games resulted in death.
Throughout the harrowing trials, Gi-hun formed alliances with fellow participants, including Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) and North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon). Despite the moral and ethical challenges posed by the brutal competition, Gi-hun's inherent compassion often guides his decisions.
In the climactic final game, he confronted Sang-woo, who, driven by desperation, resorted to ruthless measures and tried to kill Gi-hun in the one-on-one game. However, Gi-hun emerged victorious and won the 45.6 billion KRW (around $31.2 million) but was left grappling with profound guilt and trauma.
Haunted by his experiences and the systemic exploitation behind the games, Gi-hun resolved to dismantle the organization responsible. His quest for justice led him back into the perilous arena, this time with the intent to end the cycle of violence in Squid Game 2.
In the second season, Gi-hun allied with former detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who infiltrated the games in the first season to find his missing brother. Meanwhile, Jun-ho who knew that his brother, In-ho, was the Front Man (Lee Byung-ho) of the deadly Squid Game, kept this information to himself for reasons yet to be revealed in season 3.
Together, they navigated the treacherous landscape of the competition, seeking to expose and dismantle its corrupt infrastructure. Their journey was fraught with moral dilemmas, testing their resolve and humanity.
As Gi-hun delved deeper into the machinations of the games, he uncovered the identity of the frontman, Hwang In-ho, at the end of Squid Game 2. This revelation in episode 7 added a personal dimension to their mission, complicating Gi-hun and Jun-ho's efforts to bring the organization to justice.
In a daring move, Gi-hun and his allies—Jung-bae, Hyun-ju, Dae-ho, Myung-gi, and others—orchestrated a rebellion within the games in season 2, aiming to disrupt the system from within. The ensuing confrontation was intense, culminating in a pivotal showdown that challenged the very foundations of the deadly competition, where Jung-bae got killed by the Front Man.
Squid Game 2 concluded with several participants like Gi-hun, Jun-hee, Hyun-ju, Myung-gi, and more's fate hanging in the balance, setting the stage for season 3.
Squid Game season 1 and 2 are available on Netflix for global streaming.
