Yim Siwan's followers surged after appearing in the 'Squid Game' series, and he said, "This time, it seems like they are coming to curse at me."
On the morning of the 2nd, an interview with Yim Siwan, the lead actor from Netflix's 'Squid Game' Season 3, took place at a café in Seokgye-dong, Seoul.
'Squid Game 3' depicts Gi-hun, who loses his best friend in a game he reenters with his own purpose, the Frontman who hides his identity to infiltrate the game, and the final fate of the participants who survived the brutal game. The first season premiered in September 2021, causing a global phenomenon, breaking viewership records, and captivating audiences worldwide. Season 2 was released in December 2024, culminating in the final series that will conclude the story.
'Squid Game' Season 3 recorded 60,100,000 viewers just three days after its release on June 27 (Friday), maintaining the number one spot in all 93 countries where Netflix compiles its TOP 10 rankings, including Korea, the United States, Japan, France, and Brazil. This made it Netflix's first title to achieve number one in all countries during the first week of release, proving its remarkable box office success. Furthermore, it entered the ninth position among all Netflix series (non-English) during the first week, with Seasons 1, 2, and 3 all ranking within the top 10 of Netflix's all-time most popular series (non-English). Additionally, during the past week, Season 2 ranked third and Season 1 sixth in the global TOP 10 of non-English series, showcasing its significant interest among fans worldwide.
Yim Siwan plays a character with participant number 333, a YouTuber named Myung-gi who causes significant losses not only for himself but also for his subscribers due to a bad investment in a cryptocurrency broadcasting. Myung-gi is also the ex-boyfriend of another participant, Jun-hee (played by Jo Yuri), who learns about Jun-hee's pregnancy and efforts to live together. In the process, he transforms into a villain, becoming the series' top antagonist.
Having been extremely cautious about spoilers before its release, Yim Siwan noted, "Now, I've come face to face with a new phase. (Laughs) Previously, I was focused on defending myself, but now, if I want, I can talk about all the endings anywhere. I can say there are 'special appearances by Cate Blanchett.' The situation has changed," eliciting laughter.
When asked about his feelings on reaching number one in 93 countries, he said, "Today, I heard about it at the site. It's a grateful thing that a work I participated in is gaining worldwide attention. It seems that Myung-gi will have many people who will want to curse at him. (Laughs) If I'm going to be cursed at, it wouldn't be bad to be heavily criticized. I'm thinking that way," he laughed.
With the release of Season 2, Yim Siwan's personal social media followers increased by over 1 million, and he said that this Season 3 feels different. He stated, "I see the messages coming in and the growth in Instagram followers, but I believe this time there is a different purpose. I feel that they will come to my Instagram to curse at me after watching Season 3. I receive messages in languages other than Korean and English, but I don't want to translate them," he confessed, bringing laughter.
Yim Siwan, who has recently appeared as a villain in 'Emergency Declaration,' 'I Just Dropped My Smartphone,' and 'Squid Game,' expressed, "I want to stop now. That thought hasn't changed, and after filming 'Squid Game,' it's become even firmer. If possible, I want to appeal to softer or kind appearances, not just villainous roles."
Meanwhile, 'Squid Game 3' was released worldwide in over 190 countries through Netflix on the 27th of last month.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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