Actor Lee Sung-woo shared his thoughts on participating in ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 along with some behind-the-scenes stories.
On the 11th, Spring Company released a Q&A with Lee Sung-woo, who made a strong impression with his performance in both Seasons 2 and 3 of the Netflix series ‘Squid Game’.
The recently released Season 3 of Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ on the 27th of last month depicts the final fate of participants who survived in a brutal game with a prize of 456 billion won. Even in its second week of release, it continues to hold the number one spot worldwide, maintaining its box office success.
In the series, Lee Sung-woo plays the role of ‘226 Kim Young-sam’, who incites votes in favor during the life-and-death game. Kim Young-sam is a character blinded by money, shouting “One more round!” even as many people lose their lives. He is a typical ‘strong-weak-strong’ villain, targeting Jun-hee (played by Jo Yu-ri) and Geum-ja (played by Kang Ae-sim), who injure their ankles during the ‘Hide and Seek’ game, while showing a weak side to Hyun-joo (played by Park Sung-hoon), a former special forces member.
Lee Sung-woo received praise for his unique portrayal of the character Kim Young-sam, who alternates between being the right-hand man of Jeong-dae (played by Song Young-chang) and mocking him, with his attitude changing depending on the opponent. He realistically expressed the complex character who repeatedly engages in selfish behavior in extreme situations, enhancing the immersion of the drama.
Lee Sung-woo reflected, “I remember the time when my participation was confirmed and we started filming. Just being part of this project was a great honor for me, and I was very happy and enjoyed the nearly year-long filming process.” He also expressed gratitude, saying, “After Season 3 was released, my appreciation has grown even more. I am really thankful that many people liked and praised the character ‘Kim Young-sam’.”
Regarding the portrayal of the character ‘Kim Young-sam’, he said, “I thought a lot about ‘What would Kim Young-sam do?’ It wasn’t just about whether this character is a ‘good person or a bad person’, but rather how the human Kim Young-sam would act and speak when participating in that game.” He added, “If I had to express the character Kim Young-sam in one word, I would say ‘charge’. I think he was a character who focused and charged forward to survive.”
When asked about the most memorable scene, he said, “Every scene is memorable,” but added, “If I had to pick one, it would be the line ‘Do you know this person?’ during the ‘Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed’ game in Season 2 of ‘Squid Game’. I prepared and was nervous about delivering the line as if I were doing ventriloquism, thinking that ‘I shouldn’t move my eyes or lips’ as if I were actually playing the game, so it stands out in my memory.”
Lee Sung-woo is an actor known for his unique performances in various works, including the films ‘The Outlaws’, ‘The Outlaws: The Last Stand’, Netflix’s ‘The Silent Sea’, and Tving’s ‘Good or Bad Dong-jae’. Following his captivating performances in the globally successful ‘Squid Game’ Seasons 2 and 3, he has made a strong impression on viewers worldwide as a ‘scene stealer’.
Here is the full Q&A with Lee Sung-woo about ‘Squid Game’ Season 3
Q. What are your thoughts on participating in Season 3 after being part of Season 2 of
I remember the time when my participation was confirmed and we started filming. Just being part of this project was a great honor for me, and I was very happy and enjoyed the nearly year-long filming process.
Q. Were there any difficulties or key points in expressing ‘Kim Young-sam’?
I thought a lot about ‘What would Kim Young-sam do?’ It wasn’t just about whether this character is a ‘good person or a bad person’, but rather how the human Kim Young-sam would act and speak when participating in that game.
Q. ‘Kim Young-sam’ is a character that plays a key role in the conflict of the story. What do you think is the point of this character?
I think the character Kim Young-sam is suited for ‘charging’. Of course, it was a charge that caused conflict, not a good one. I think he was a character who focused and charged forward to survive.
Q. Is there a scene or line that stands out to you?
Every scene is memorable, but if I had to pick one, it would be the line ‘Do you know this person?’ during the ‘Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed’ game in Season 2 of
Q. What was the atmosphere on set and how was the chemistry with your fellow actors?
It was a very enjoyable set, but everyone was very serious about participating in the game, which added a great weight to the atmosphere. I still feel the tension from the filming. Nevertheless, I was happy to film with actors I wanted to act with and see.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say to the viewers of the
My gratitude has grown even more since
Q. What are your future activity plans?
My goal is to continue acting in a way that is fun, enjoyable, and resonates with people.
