"He’s so right about this ranking- Fans react to Lee Jung-jae  choosing BLACKPINK, BTS and TWICE as most likely K-pop groups to survive Squid Game

On January 15, 2025, Squid Game lead actor Lee Jung-jae made an appearance on the popular YouTube show Hot Ones alongside co-star Lee Byung-hun. During the lighthearted Q&A segment, Lee Jung-jae was asked which K-pop groups he thought would most likely survive the challenges of the Squid Game. His answer sparked excitement among fans as he ranked BLACKPINK, BTS, and TWICE in that order.

Fans quickly took to social media to share their thoughts, cheering for their favorite groups and debating the rankings. Many pointed out that Lee Jung-jae’s known admiration for BLACKPINK might have influenced his decision to place them first.

Others began comparing the groups’ past performances in variety show challenges, such as Run BTS and similar activities, to analyze how well they might adapt to the fictional survival games of Squid Game. Fans of BTS argued that the group’s teamwork and adaptability would make them strong contenders, while TWICE’s fans highlighted the members’ playful competitiveness.

The comments section became a lively battlefield of fandom pride, with supporters cheering on their respective groups. The question, while purely hypothetical, teased the crossover appeal of K-pop and Squid Game.

“Named all three groups he knows,” a fan remarked.

“And we know who’s his bias in that two particular group,” a fan said remarking BTS’ Taehyung and BLACKPINK’s Jennie.

“He has taste,” a fan exclaimed.

“And they're the BIG 3 for a reason!” A fan wrote.

Some group-centric comments were also made,

“I can already see the chaos if blackpink in Squid Game with jennie laughing non-stop, Lisa & Rosé too stunned to speak & panicking, and Jisoo as the game master,” a BLACKPINK fan wrote.

“MY TWICE, he is so real for that,” a TWICE fan commented.

“BTS would have a better chance as so many episodes of RUN BTS prepared them for this moment," an ARMY wrote.

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Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun compete against each other in Hot Ones

Lee Byung-hun and Lee Jung-jae, the iconic duo from Squid Game 2, recently appeared on the popular show Hot Ones. Their camaraderie during the episode added fuel to the viral fan-created ship “457" named after the sum of their characters’ game numbers, Seong Gi-hun’s 456 and the Front Man’s 001.

While their characters are archenemies in the series, moments of bonding and tension in the show have inspired fans to ship them in imaginative ways.

The Hot Ones episode began with Lee Byung-hun posing a playful yet thought-provoking question to Lee Jung-jae:

"Rank these K-pop groups from most to least likely to survive the Squid Game."

The given options were BLACKPINK, BTS, and TWICE. Lee Jung-jae ranked them as follows:

1. BLACKPINK
2. BTS
3. TWICE

When asked why he chose this order, he replied with a chuckle,

"I just happen to like them in that order."

As the Scoville heat of the hot wings increased, so did the intensity of the questions. The next questions featured some fan theories regarding Squid Game's upcoming season. These theories were dismissed by Lee Byung-hun who said,

"None of these are correct."

This unexpected revelation shocked fans, as some of these theories were widely believed and hotly debated. The dismissal of these theories has left viewers even more curious and eager for the twists that await in the final season.

The episode concluded with a mix of humor and suspense, with the duo engaging in fun challenges like the classic “Red Light, Green Light” game. Lee Jung-jae emerged as the winner, adding a playful ending to the intense questioning.

Fans now eagerly await the third and final season of Squid Game, set to premiere on June 27, 2025.