The global sensation 'Squid Game' is finally reaching its finale with season 3.
On the morning of the 9th, a production presentation for Netflix's series 'Squid Game' season 3 was held at the Grand Ballroom Halla of the Seoul Dragon City in Yongsan, Seoul. In attendance were director Hwang Dong-hyuk and lead actors Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Siwan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yuri, Chae Kuk-hee, Lee Da-wit, and Noh Jae-won.
'Squid Game' season 3 depicts Gi-hun, who has lost his best friend in the game he re-enters with his own purpose, the Frontman, who hides his identity in the game, and the final fate of the participants who survived the brutal games. Season 1 was first released in September 2021, creating a global phenomenon and breaking all-time viewer records. Season 2 premiered in December 2024, and now the final series is set for its grand finale.
In particular, at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards held in September 2022, 'Squid Game' director Hwang Dong-hyuk won the directing award, and Lee Jung-jae won the best actor award, making it a total of six wins and setting a new record. The Emmy Awards, referred to as 'the Cannes Film Festival of television' or 'the Academy Awards,' marks the first time a non-English-language series has won both the directing and best actor awards. This is also the first for all of Asia.
In this season 3, Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who has lost his best friend Jung-bae (played by Lee Seo-hwan) and fellow participants due to the failed uprising he led, must find a way to end the games. Meanwhile, the Frontman (played by Lee Byung-hun), who disguised himself as participant number 001, Young-il, and joined the games with Gi-hun, raises questions about his fate, and whether Gi-hun will uncover the Frontman's true identity. The reunion between the Frontman returning as the game's overseer and Gi-hun is also a point of curiosity.
In addition, the expectations are high for changes faced by characters such as Myung-ki (played by Yim Siwan), a coin YouTuber, Dae-ho (played by Kang Ha-neul), a Marine Corps veteran, In-ho's brother and police officer Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-jun), defector Neul (played by Park Gyu-young) dressed in pink guard, Jun-hee (played by Jo Yuri), Myung-ki's ex-girlfriend who participated while heavily pregnant, transgender Hyun-joo (played by Park Sung-hoon), and the only two hat participants Geum-ja (played by Kang Ae-sim) and Yong-sik (played by Yang Dong-geun), as well as Kyung-seok (played by Lee Jin-wook), who joined to raise surgery funds for his young daughter, a shaman (played by Chae Kuk-hee) facing difficulties, and Min-soo (played by Lee Da-wit), who is bullied by Nam-kyu.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk noted, "Many people have seen the trailer, so I think they'll have some guesses. Gi-hun has lost most of his comrades and his best friend Jung-bae after the failed rebellion. The story follows how Seong Gi-hun overcomes his guilt and despair after falling to the ground." He added, "This is a story about human belief, and I hope you focus on the differences in values between Seong Gi-hun and the Frontman."
In response to the question, "What message do you want to convey?" he answered, "Instead of conveying a message, I wanted to ask questions in season 3. In a society of late capitalism, with many side effects caused by excessive competition and constant stimulation, can we create a slightly better future? Can we pass on a better and more sustainable generation to the next generation? I wanted to bring this to light through seasons 2 and 3."
Lee Jung-jae commented on the changes Gi-hun undergoes, saying, "He is trying to rise above the guilt and despair associated with the death of his friend and the fact that the people who entered the game could not survive. Initially, he wanted to stop the game and punish those responsible, but gradually he starts to contemplate what he should do in the game, leading to the determination that this is 'exactly what I must do'. This transformation of Gi-hun's decision and story unfolds throughout the series."
Lee Byung-hun said, "Gi-hun is shocked when Frontman kills his best friend, leaving him in a helpless state. True to his nature, Gi-hun aims to dismantle this entire system while still believing in humanity, while the Frontman devises a plan to completely destroy everything. The Frontman, watching Gi-hun, formulates another plan. If seasons 2 and 3 can be seen as one story, season 3 culminates in a climax and conclusion. It inevitably heads towards a dramatically intense confrontation between Gi-hun and the Frontman."
Regarding the harsh criticism that season 2 was scattered, director Hwang Dong-hyuk stated, "Seasons 2 and 3 were written and shot at the same time. We did not change season 3 based on the reactions to season 2. However, the conclusion and narrative of season 3 were not organized and ended abruptly. I hope that watching season 3 will alleviate a lot of that. I want to be evaluated as having successfully managed what was set up in season 2."
In response to the question, "You said there wouldn’t be a season 4; do you still feel the same?" he replied, "I do not plan to make a season 4. This was part of the discussions with Netflix while working on season 3. However, if the opportunity arises, I might consider a spin-off."
Ahead of the release of season 3, there were controversies surrounding the actors' social media and spoilers.
Earlier in January, Park Gyu-young became embroiled in a spoiler controversy regarding 'Squid Game' season 3. She posted a photo from the filming of season 2 on her social media. The photo showed Park Gyu-young enjoying a break while dressed in pink guard.
The issue arose with the identity of another actor sitting behind Park Gyu-young, who was also dressed in pink guard. Speculation poured in that this actor is one of the key actors from season 2. After the controversy emerged, Park Gyu-young quickly deleted the photo, but it had already circulated widely through various online communities and social media.
In response, director Hwang Dong-hyuk said, "Of course, I was surprised. I wondered why this happened... But humans, whether by their own choice or by circumstance, can make mistakes, so I can't criticize them for making a mistake until the end. A mistake is a mistake, and forgiveness is forgiveness." He also added, "We have to put the past behind us and move forward, so I see this as a happening that we smoothly passed through."
He continued, "There might be viewers who felt disappointed or upset about prematurely being spoiled because of that. I hope you see it as a small mistake and find that the fun of the show is not significantly hindered by such spoilers. I think you may feel that 'it wasn't a big deal' when you watch it. I hope you understand."
The director added, "There’s no way to legally prevent a recurrence. They have suffered from their mistakes for a long time, so they surely know in their hearts that such incidents should never happen again, so I think no further measures are necessary."
Without having directly apologized, Park Gyu-young simply stated, "You may be curious about the stories of Neul and Kyung-seok, so I hope you'll watch on the 27th."
When asked about his thoughts on the upcoming release of season 3, Wi Ha-jun replied, "Five years have already passed, and I can't believe how quickly that time has flown. I'm happy to have received such great love worldwide. I consider myself lucky to have helped raise the value and status of Korean culture and arts. I feel grateful that I've grown as an actor and as a person through this project. I hope this work will be remembered by many people's hearts."
Lee Byung-hun expressed, "I feel bittersweet. I always feel bittersweet at the end of a project, but 'Squid Game' was a bit different. After promoting 'Squid Game 2' in the U.S., I experienced an overwhelming welcome from the fans. Even though I had previously experienced Hollywood films, the tremendous support and reception I received then were unprecedented. It is nostalgic to receive such a warm welcome for content from our country. There are still many promotions left for season 3 abroad, and despite my long time as an actor, I am grateful to have such incredible and happy experiences through this work, which I think makes the significance of this project unique and great."
Lee Jung-jae shared similar feelings with Byung-hun, stating, "From an artistic standpoint, experiencing Director Hwang Dong-hyuk's extensive and profound worldview was a valuable experience. It's incredibly challenging to manage many themes from a major theme down to various small themes in each episode, in addition to the dialogues of numerous characters. Some characters reflect social representations, while others express human emotions, which I think were well distributed. The most significant achievement by the time we reached season 3 is that domestic and international fans support different characters. I want to applaud the director for being amazing and everyone involved."
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed, "I have devoted six years to this work, from starting to write it to this moment. An unbelievable, miraculous event that I never imagined has occurred. Everyone dreams of success when creating a work, but few have the courage to dream of such success. An incredible and amazing thing has unfolded. I have had so many precious experiences over these six years. While going abroad, receiving numerous awards, meeting fans, and interacting with international media have been excellent experiences, looking back, the emotions felt when creating the work with such great actors have contributed greatly to my growth as an individual and a creator. I believe that the moments spent filming will be the most cherished. Recently, while receiving an award in the U.S., I spoke about how I should not be captivated by the glittering aspects of success or illumination. Instead, I should cherish the feelings and lessons I learned during these six years and think about preparing for the next work, next work."
Meanwhile, 'Squid Game' season 3 will be released on the 27th through Netflix, available in over 190 countries worldwide.
[Photo] Reporter Ji Hyung-jun
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