Lee Jung-jae from 'Squid Game 3' shared his thoughts on the mixed reviews.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, an interview with Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of the Netflix series 'Squid Game' Season 3, took place at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul.
'Squid Game 3' portrays the final fate of Gi-hun, who lost his closest friend in a game he rejoined with a personal goal, the Front Man, who infiltrated the game while hiding his identity, and the participants who survived the cruel game. Season 1 premiered in September 2021, causing a global sensation and breaking the highest viewership records in history, captivating audiences worldwide. Season 2 was released in December 2024, and it will conclude with this final series.
'Squid Game 3' recorded 60,100,000 views just three days after its release, topping the Netflix charts in 93 countries, including Korea, the United States, Japan, France, and Brazil. This marks Netflix's first title to achieve number one globally in all countries during its opening week, proving to be a phenomenal success. Additionally, it entered the list of Netflix's all-time series (non-English) at number nine in its opening week, with Seasons 1, 2, and 3 all ranking within the top 10 of Netflix's all-time popular series (non-English). Furthermore, Season 2 ranked third, while Season 1 moved up to sixth in the global TOP 10 based on views counted over the past week, demonstrating its strong appeal to fans worldwide. Currently, FlixPatrol has maintained the number one spot for five consecutive days.
Earlier, Lee Jung-jae made history by winning six awards, including the Best Actor award at the 74th Emmy Awards held in September 2022, while director Hwang Dong-hyuk received the Best Director award. The Emmy Awards, often referred to as the 'Cannes of television' or the 'Academy Awards,' marked the first record of a non-English speaking director and best actor winning in these categories. This is also the first such achievement in Asia.
In this Season 3, it remains to be seen whether Gi-hun, who lost his closest friend Jung-bae (played by Lee Seo-hwan) and fellow participants due to a failed revolt he led, can end the game; the fate of the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun), who participated in the game disguised as Participant 001 Yong-il alongside Gi-hun, and whether Gi-hun will uncover the Front Man's true identity are among the key points to watch.
Regarding his feelings about parting with Seong Gi-hun, he said, "I still can't feel it. It just opened, and I first feel that I've had a significant experience. In that sense, it's a very grateful thing. It's true that I've received a lot of interest and love. I hope to slowly see how the reactions unfold from now on. Now that it's really over, I wonder if there will be more opportunities to talk about 'Squid Game.'"
He continued, "I always feel this when working on a project; at first, it's hard to settle into the character, and I struggle with what direction my acting should take and how it should be expressed. I have a lot of dilemmas about which choice among various options is the best. As time passes, I become familiar with the character and realize that 'I'm very immersed in the project.' Then, affection inevitably builds. But then the end always comes, and I think, 'I wish we could shoot longer.' It's the same with 'Squid Game.' I don't feel a sense of relief at its conclusion; instead, I feel a lot of regret, wondering if this is really how it ends."
Especially in Season 3, some have expressed their discontent beyond mere preferences. While there are high expectations, it is also due to unexpected endings for the main characters.
"As the seasons progress, the mixed reviews increase. It may be frustrating, but" when asked about this, he noted, "I've experienced this a lot. It's the same with movies; it has always been like this. Nowadays, it seems more positive as diverse stories about 'liked it or didn't like it' are pouring out, enriching the conversation. After all, this is something that director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who also serves as the writer, likely anticipated. I don't think the majority will like it, but I believe this choice is the best in the end. Including myself, director Hwang Dong-hyuk and the production team have been at the core of the content field and have experienced successes and failures. We know that when a choice is made, it can be an eccentric decision. Wrapping up the season in this way is an auteur choice, which we respect."
Meanwhile, 'Squid Game 3' was released globally in over 190 countries through Netflix on the 27th of last month.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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