"Squid Game 3" Lee Jung-jae shared his thoughts on the conclusion of Seong Gi-hun.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, an interview was held with Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of the Netflix series "Squid Game" Season 3, at a cafe in Seoul's Sokgyeok-dong.
"Squid Game 3" portrays Gi-hun, who loses his closest friend in a game he re-enters with his own purpose, and the Frontman, who concealed his identity while infiltrating the game, along with the fates of participants who survived the brutal game. The first season premiered in September 2021, triggering a global sensation and breaking viewership records, captivating audiences worldwide. Season 2 was released in December 2024, and now it concludes with this final series.
"Squid Game 3" recorded 60,100,000 viewers just three days after its release, maintaining the number one spot in Netflix's TOP 10 across all 93 countries, including Korea, the U.S., Japan, France, and Brazil. This marks Netflix's first work to reach number one in all countries during its opening week, demonstrating an unprecedented box office hit. Additionally, it entered the ninth position in Netflix's all-time series (non-English) during its first week of release, with Seasons 1, 2, and 3 all making it into the top 10 of Netflix's most popular series (non-English). Furthermore, Season 2 ranked third and Season 1 sixth in the global TOP 10 based on view counts from the past week, proving it remains a work of great interest among fans worldwide. Currently, FlixPatrol has maintained first place for five consecutive days.
Earlier, Lee Jung-jae made history by winning a total of six awards at the 74th Emmy Awards held in September 2022, including Outstanding Lead Actor, while director Hwang Dong-hyuk received the directing award. The Emmy Awards, often referred to as the 'Cannes Film Festival of television' or the 'Academy Awards,' marked the first time a directing award and Outstanding Lead Actor were given to a non-English film.
In this Season 3, Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) who lost his closest friend Jung-bae (played by Lee Seo-hwan) and fellow participants due to the failure of a rebellion he led, will determine whether he can end the game. The Frontman (played by Lee Byung-hun), who disguised himself as participant 001, Yong-il, and joined the game alongside Gi-hun, faces an uncertain fate as well. Whether Gi-hun will learn about the Frontman's true identity and the reunion between Gi-hun and the Frontman, who returns as the game's overseer, are key points of interest.
Regarding the surprising and twist-filled ending, Lee Jung-jae noted, "The director's intention was evident. The series was incredibly successful, and it was surprising that such a choice was made for the integrity of the work over the success of a big franchise. I felt that 'this person is focusing more on the quality of the work out of love for it than on their own success.'"
He added, "Originally, we intended to conclude in Season 2, but to release 13 episodes at once required more post-production, so we had no choice but to split it into Seasons 2 and 3. I received the original script for 13 episodes and felt, upon seeing the complete ending, 'this person has a great love for their work and is a true writer.' I realized that 'this is not about entertainment or show business, but about being a writer.' I had a strong desire to support the ideas I proposed and worked hard to align with the director's vision."
"There's a lot of discussion among fans regarding Seong Gi-hun's final choice," he said, adding, "Since it's the ending of a major project he envisioned, I wonder how much he struggled with it. I understand that thought very well without needing to ask. 'Is the desire this intense?' I was a bit surprised. I didn't expect that kind of ending." He admitted, "In fact, I can't view it objectively. Rather, I feel more compelled to say, 'we made it with this intention, so please understand our perspective.'"
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director, mentioned that there were alternative endings for Seong Gi-hun, to which Lee Jung-jae responded, "I've heard about it. He thought deeply about various versions, and it seems he experienced profound deliberation. Regardless of which ending was chosen, it's a position that cannot be seen objectively," he laughed.
Meanwhile, "Squid Game 3" was released worldwide in over 190 countries via Netflix on the 27th of last month.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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