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The Korea Times

This story contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2
By Park Jin-hai
One of the first Korean actors to venture into Hollywood, Lee Byung-hun is writing a new chapter in his career with the Netflix series Squid Game.
Following the global sensation of season 1, season 2 has also captured worldwide attention, ranking No. 1 on Netflix in 93 countries upon its release.
Lee, 54, who plays the enigmatic Front Man in Squid Game, described the series as reaching a “whole new level” of success.


“Even though I’ve starred in Hollywood blockbusters, people didn’t recognise me as much as I thought they would,” Lee said in an interview. “But with this Korean original series Squid Game, created by Korean directors, actors and colleagues, I feel much more loved and welcomed. It’s quite ironic.
“When I visited the States [for Squid Game] and saw so many fans gathered, I was taken aback. It brought me a mix of emotions, reminding me of the times when I first came to Hollywood and was struggling.”
Lee confessed that he never expected Squid Game to become such a global hit. Initially, he thought director Hwang Dong-hyuk was making “a really experimental drama”.
“It had a somewhat unfamiliar format. Almost the entire drama was set in a studio, in a very fairy-tale-like space, and everyone was wearing the same green outfits. I thought, ‘This is either going to be a huge hit or a complete flop,’” he said.

In the first season, Lee had only a relatively brief role as the Front Man, a former Squid Game winner turned mastermind behind the deadly games. In season 2, his involvement deepens as he disguises himself as Player 001, giving other contestants his real name, Hwang In-ho.
His character aims to thwart Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) who, after winning in season 1, returns to the game to save the contestants and end the game for good.
Even with 34 years of acting experience and a reputation as one of Korea’s most talented actors, Lee admitted that portraying the Front Man was no easy task.
“During the 11 months of filming, I pondered every day about how much I should enjoy myself as a participant and how much I should pretend to be tense, and discussed it with the director. It was a challenge for me as an actor,” he said.
“My personal dilemma was how to distribute the proportions of the three aspects of this character: Player 001, Hwang In-ho before entering this game, and the Front Man.”

He described his character as someone who had experienced so much hardship that he had become “desensitised to the idea of life and death”. It was also “his fear of the outside world” that kept him trapped in the game.
“Being wrongfully accused of fraud at work when trying to pay for his pregnant wife’s medical expenses might have fuelled the Front Man’s hatred for the world,” Lee said. “The countless deaths, betrayals and cruelty he witnessed in the game likely solidified his desire for revenge against humanity.”
Discussing his approach to acting, Lee emphasised the importance of understanding and believing in the script, adding that he needed to be persuaded by its quality before committing to a project.
“Once I fully understand the script and it convinces me of its greatness, I decide to take it on. If I really like it but there are parts I don’t understand or find unconvincing, I keep asking questions and trying to find alternatives until I reach a definite conclusion,” he said.
“I try to make sure everyone, or at least the majority, is convinced so that I can faithfully express it. Because, if I feel I understand everything else about this work, but certain scenes do not resonate with me, then I think such scenes might look fake.”
Read the original story at The Korea Times.


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Lee, whose Front Man has a much bigger role in Squid Game season 2, says the Netflix series has brought him far more fame than Hollywood did


Lee, whose Front Man has a much bigger role in Squid Game season 2, says the Netflix series has brought him far more fame than Hollywood did.


Squid Game’s Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun on feeling ‘much more loved’ these days

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lee, whose Front Man has a much bigger role in Squid Game season 2, says the Netflix series has brought him far more fame than Hollywood did

Lee, whose Front Man has a much bigger role in Squid Game season 2, says the Netflix series has brought him far more fame than Hollywood did