Lee Jung-jae: “Ki-hoon’s ending in ‘Squid Game’ respects the author’s choice” [DA : Interview ①]

Actor Lee Jung-jae revealed his thoughts on leaving the ‘Squid Game’ series.

In an interview for season 3 of the Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd, Lee Jung-jae confessed, “It still doesn’t feel real that this is the last time.I’ve been doing it for so long, it just opened, and I’m doing the interview today, so it still doesn’t feel real.”

‘Squid Game’ Season 3 is the story of ‘Ki-hoon’ who lost his best friend in the game he re-entered with his own purpose, ‘Frontman’ who hid his identity and hid in the game, and the final fate of the participants who survived the cruel game.Following Season 1 in 2021 and Season 2 in December of last year, this final season, which puts an end to the long journey, was released on Netflix on the 27th of last month.

Lee Jung-jae said, “The first thing that comes to mind is, ‘I had a great experience.’ I’m so grateful.I received a lot of attention and love through ‘Squid Game.’ I think I need to wait and see the reactions more carefully.Now that it’s really over, I wonder if there will be another chance to talk about ‘Squid Game.’” He confessed, “If it were a movie, fans would sometimes hold re-screening events for the past five or ten years, but since it’s OTT series, I’ve never had that opportunity.I wonder, ‘Is this really the end?’ ‘What’s going to happen? ‘“

When asked if he felt bittersweet as he said, “I always feel this way when I start a project, but in the beginning, it’s hard to get a hold of the character, and I have a lot of concerns about which direction to act in and how to express myself.When I worry about which method would be best among various methods, it’s hard even while filming.As time goes by, I get used to the character and feel that I’m really immersed in the project, so I can’t help but grow fond of it.When it gets to the end, I sometimes think that I wish I could have done more.” He added, “It’s the same with ‘Squid Game.’ I don’t feel relieved, and I feel regretful that this is the end.”

Lee Jung-jae plays Ki-hoon, who returns to destroy the cruel games in ‘Squid Game’, but falls into a panic and blames himself after failing to revolt.Ki-hoon regains his reason to live, but chooses a dramatic ending, saying, “We are not words.We are people.”


Lee Jung-jae said about the ending of ‘Squid Game’, “I could clearly see the intention of the writer and director(Director Hwang Dong-hyeok).The season was such a huge success, so usually the season continues to the point where you wonder, ‘When will it end?’ I was surprised that this choice was made for the sake of the completeness of the work rather than for the sake of enjoying such success, as it is being carried out as a big franchise project.I thought that this person focuses on and has affection for the work rather than for his own success, whether it be material or an extension of his work.”

He said, “I received 13 scripts, but since they needed a lot of post-production, I had no choice but to cut them down and make them into seasons 2 and 3.After seeing the ending, I thought, ‘This person has a lot of love for his work and is a writer.’ I thought he was a writer, not someone in the entertainment show business.” He confessed, “I thought I had to follow the writer’s decision.I thought I had to support him in his decision to finish ‘Squid Game.’”

Lee Jung-jae recalled, “I repeatedly heard(from director Hwang Dong-hyeok)that there would be no season 2.I thought there would be one since Ki-hoon turned around like this at the end of season 1.” He continued, “Since he had such great success, I started this season as a way to repay him.I thought it would be right to help him do whatever he wanted to do amidst such great success and opportunity.” He continued, “Even on set, I had my own methods and directions I wanted to express, but I tried my best to match the writer’s wishes.Rather than talking about my ideas or thoughts, I asked him more questions about what he wanted to do more.I tried to accommodate him as much as possible.”

Regarding the ending of ‘Ki-hoon’, he said that he respected the director’s choice.He explained, “Director Hwang Dong-hyeok is someone who only made movies.The ending should greatly amplify the emotions that the audience feels, should have a sense of completion, and should conclude the fun and message, but people who make movies can’t help but think a lot about the final ending that has passed the beginning and the introduction, development, climax, and conclusion.” He continued, “In that sense, I wondered how much he had thought about the ending of the big project he had in mind.I knew it without asking.I felt that the writer’s desire to do it was this strong.”

He said that there was talk of another version of the ending for ‘Ki-hoon’.Lee Jung-jae said, “I considered several versions and had a hard time choosing them.I think it would have been good to choose another version, and I think it was a good choice to wrap up the current ending.” However, he added, “I’ve been with this project for 5-6 years, so I can’t be objective.I made it with that intention, so I hope people understand my intentions a little more.”

He also said that he understood the viewers ‘mixed reactions.Lee Jung-jae said, “Even if most people don’ t like it, I decided that this choice was good.Most of the people who were there are at the core of the content business in Korea and have experienced a lot of success and failure.” He added, “There’s no one who doesn’t know that a lot of people will like a certain choice and that it might be a maniacal decision.Nevertheless, I think it was a writer’s idea that he wanted to end the season like this,” respecting the director’s choice.

Reporter Jeong com -yeon, Donga.com shine2562@donga

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.