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Emmy-Winning ‘Squid Game’ Star: Success is Due to Show’s Message
Lee Jung-jae, 52, says universal themes make it a global hit
Presley Ann/Getty Images
In 2021, the South Korean dystopian horror thriller Squid Game premiered on Netflix. A year later, it made Emmy history by becoming the first non-English-language series to earn a win — six in total. But Lee Jung-jae, 52, who became the first South Korean (and the first Asian actor, and the first person in a non-English-speaking role) to win the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for his role as game winner Seong Gi-hun, has a simple explanation for Squid Game’s success.
It was the “themes and the messages of the show” that director Hwang Dong-hyuk, 53, [also a Squid Game Emmy winner] brought to life, Lee says. “[Viewers] thought that we had these social issues in our global community. That's why I think a lot of people related to Squid Game, and that's why they gave us a lot of love and support.”
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And that’s how Season 2, debuting Dec. 26 on Netflix, and a final third season, set for later in 2025, began to take shape. Lee, an iconic South Korean model turned actor, spoke with AARP recently about his newfound international stardom; the challenges of learning English for his role on the Star Wars: The Acolyte series; and the American TV show he watched and loved as a kid.
This interview was conducted over video with an interpreter. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Fans have been waiting three years for a new season. What can we expect?
In Season 1 of Squid Game, there were a lot of entertainment factors including the narrative and everything, but there was also that shared common caring about our society and deep themes. You will see that again in Season 2, so I hope the fans will enjoy it.
Lee Jung-jae in Season 1 of "Squid Game" on Netflix.
Noh Juhan/Netflix
Why do you think people related to your character [Gi-hun aka Player 456]?
I think the main reason is that my character is just an ordinary man. He's a plain Joe, and he's nothing different from any of us. That's why people like to root for him.
How has your life changed since you became a world-famous star after Season 1?
Not that big of a star. Just that people sometimes recognize me on the streets. It’s a joy to see people come to me and recognize [me], and I’m very grateful people love the show.
Were your parents supportive of you becoming an actor?
In the beginning, my dad wasn't very supportive of me choosing this path, but then I actually was quite fast to get recognition. So I think he thought it was a good career path for me to go.
Who are some of your acting inspirations?
There are so many actors that I really admire. I’m a big, big fan of Meryl Streep, so I saw her in a lot of movies, and I just love her performance in every single one of them. Also Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Marlon Brando are some of the actors that I really admire.
Did you watch any American TV growing up and perhaps have a favorite show?
I think the name in English is The Six Million Dollar Man. I love that one.
Was it hard to learn English for The Acolyte series? As you get older, I heard it’s not so easy.
Very, very challenging, especially the pronunciation and the intonation. I took on a role as a Jedi, and my character [Master Sol] was supposed to be pretty proficient at English, so I lost sleep on it. I was practicing every day and night, and it was quite challenging.
Lee returns as Seong Gi-hun for season 2 of "Squid Game" on Netflix, starting Dec. 26.
No Ju-han/Netflix
I heard you say in an interview that you like a challenge, so what’s next?
After the release of Season 1 of Squid Game, I made my directorial debut with a script [Hunt] which I wrote myself, and the reactions were actually not bad. So I want to give it another go. I'm working on another script.
What do you like to write about?
I don't have a set subject [of] material that I like. I’m actually working on three different scripts right now, and the themes are all different. But one overarching theme that I have for all of the three scripts is that people have to try their best to live in harmony.
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