Jo Yuri of 'Squid Game 3' said she would embrace various opinions, stating, "I will show a more mature version of myself."
On the afternoon of the 8th, an interview with Jo Yuri, the lead actress of Netflix's series 'Squid Game' Season 3, took place at a café in Seoul's Sokgyeok-dong.
'Squid Game 3' depicts the final fate of participants who survive in a brutal game, including Gi-hun, who loses his closest friend while rejoining the game with his own purpose, and the Frontman, who infiltrated the game while concealing his identity. Season 1 was first released in September 2021, causing a global sensation and setting record viewership ratings that captivated audiences worldwide. Season 2 was launched in December 2024, culminating in the final series.
Earlier, 'Squid Game 3' recorded 60,100,000 viewers just three days after its release, ranking first in all 93 countries that compile Netflix's TOP 10, including Korea, the United States, Japan, France, and Brazil. This marked Netflix's first title to achieve number one in all countries during its first week of release, proving to be an unprecedented hit. Additionally, it entered the top 9 of Netflix's all-time series (non-English) during its first week, with all three seasons of 'Squid Game' featuring in the top 10 of Netflix's all-time popular series (non-English). Moreover, in the global TOP 10 compiled based on viewership over the past week, Season 2 ranked 3rd and Season 1 ranked 6th, showcasing its significant interest among global fans. Currently, it has maintained its number one spot on the OTT ranking site Flix Patrol for 10 consecutive days.
Jo Yuri, who comes from the girl group IZ*ONE, played the role of Jun-hee, who participated in the game after losing a large amount of money due to misleading investment information from her ex-boyfriend Myung-gi (played by Yim Siwan). She joined the series in Season 2 and in this Season 3, she plays a crucial character who gives birth to a daughter during the game, introducing a major twist.
Jo Yuri, who made her acting debut through the 'Squid Game' series, stated, "I had a really happy time filming, and it's hard to believe it's over. I thought I wasn't ready to let Jun-hee go, but now that we've reached Season 3, I feel ready to say goodbye." She added, "I am grateful for the audience's feedback. It seems they have shown their affection, and I’m thankful for that. I feel motivated to showcase a more mature version of myself, using that affection as nourishment."
Regarding the criticism that her acting lacks diverse expressions and emotions, she noted, "I felt that the emotions Jun-hee would experience were limited. I thought it would be difficult to express various emotions like joy or outwardly visible feelings, and I acted with this in mind. I plan to take in feedback for my next role. I didn't feel unfair or upset about this aspect; it was a new experience for me, and I realized that this was how it could be perceived and displayed."
Jo Yuri portrayed a full-term pregnant woman at a young age in her 20s, sharing, "There were burdens, but I worried about whether I could do well or appear awkward due to my lack of experience. Aside from those concerns, it wasn't difficult." She expressed gratitude to Senior Kang Ae-sim for providing detailed guidance, saying, "Thank you for explaining what postures are possible or impossible. I received considerable support from my seniors during filming. I also watched childbirth vlogs on YouTube, consulted a friend who recently gave birth, and asked my mother for advice."
She added, "I felt that performing as a pregnant woman was a good challenge as I began to take steps as an actress. I approached the project with the mindset of embracing the positive challenges."
Meanwhile, 'Squid Game 3' was released worldwide in over 190 countries on the 27th of last month.
[Photo] Netflix
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