Lee Jung-jae Returns for Another Round of ‘Squid Game’: “I Was Pulled Back Into Hell”

The first time Lee Jung-jae stepped onto the set of Squid Game season two—dressed, once more, in his player No. 456 green tracksuit—he froze. “We didn’t plan on making a season two, so it was like I was pulled back into hell,” says the South Korean actor. “Because many characters had died, I vividly remembered all the pain I portrayed as my character, Seong Gi-hun. I felt a gigantic wave of trauma once again. I personally lived with those horrific emotions during the entire production.”

The dystopian drama captivated audiences worldwide when it debuted on Netflix three years ago, becoming a cultural phenomenon and the streamer’s most-watched series of all time. Season two—out December 26—finds Gi-hun unable to overcome his survivor’s guilt as the deadly titular competition continues. Using his prize money to track down the people behind the game, he realizes he must reenter the arena to ultimately end it once and for all. The second installment features new violent twists on popular Korean children’s games, modified rules, and more social commentary on universal motifs like sectarianism and following your conscience—a theme that defined Lee’s approach to his character this season.

“While playing the games, I asked myself, Is my conscience working as well as Gi-hun’s? In Korea there is a proverb: ‘A conscience that doesn’t lead to action is not a well-working conscience at all,’” Lee explains. “Gi-hun’s has always led to his actions, and I was really moved by that. It made me think—life is not about earning a lot of money just to have a great life for myself. It’s about living together in harmony and helping others.”

Lee is speaking in early November at Netflix’s theater in Hollywood prior to joining Squid Game’s creator-writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk to unveil the new season before an audience for the first time. Ahead of the screening, Lee is reserved and humble, but feeling the weight of responsibility. “I don’t want to disappoint the fans,” he says. “We worked extremely hard not to have that sophomore slump.”

He filmed seasons two and three simultaneously—the third, set for 2025, will end the series—fully immersing himself in his role. After a full day of filming, he’d go home and continue to examine the script, engrossed in Gi-hun’s distressed state of mind. “That’s all I did for one year,” Lee says. “I wanted to do my character justice.”

Before he was player No. 456, Lee worked part-time at a café in Seoul while applying to work at an interior design company. Then a casting agent approached him about modeling for a fashion magazine. He accepted the offer, thinking it was a one-time gig. But after the shoot, he booked another, and kept getting called back for more. He focused on those lucrative modeling jobs for about two years—primarily promoting stylish suits—until he was chosen to act in a TV commercial for the Korean chocolate brand Crunky.

The commercial was a huge success, and led to an acting career. His breakout role came in the acclaimed 1995 miniseries Sandglass, one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in history. But though his performance as a solemn bodyguard made him a household name, “the beginning of my career wasn’t fun,” says Lee, who turns 52 on December 15. “I was terrified because I didn’t know how to act. I was on set and had no idea what to do. I thought I wouldn’t be able to continue to do this for a long time.”

Still, over the next 30 years, he became one of Korea’s most celebrated actors, establishing a storied career across genres, with over 40 films and TV series to his name. In 2019, Lee received a call from filmmaker Hwang about Squid Game. “He wrote the most original scenarios and characters, and the universal theme of how far people are willing to go to accumulate personal wealth was very powerful,” Lee says. “I immediately signed up.” Squid Game launched on September 17, 2021. Nearly overnight, his career changed again, this time transforming him from treasured Korean movie staple to global superstar. “I never imagined having so many fans around the world embrace me. I think it’s more because of my character,” Lee says. “He is about helping others and has a kind heart. I feel people love him for those qualities.”

Hwang knew Lee was born to play fickle Gi-hun. “His biggest strength is the wide range of characters he can immerse into,” the creator says. “The characters that he plays—both good and bad, innocent and cunning—showcase his fearless approach to tackling characters of extreme contrasts. That’s how I knew he would be the perfect actor for Gi-hun.” The director is proud of Lee for making the character feel real while highlighting his charm and humor.

Hollywood also took notice of Lee’s performance. In 2022, he became the first Asian—and Korean—actor to win the Emmy Award for outstanding male lead actor in a drama series. His recognition also marked the first time that the award had gone to an actor in a non-English-language show. “I still can’t believe I won. Is this reality?” he laughs now. “The best part of winning was that Korean content was being shared and beloved by an international audience. I hope my win can inspire other non-English-speaking actors and filmmakers that there are opportunities in America and on the worldwide stage.”

Following his historic wins, Lee continued trailblazing as the first Asian to play a Jedi master in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte—a part that also marked Lee’s first English-speaking role. The show’s cast included Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith and Manny Jacinto, and was led by showrunner Leslye Headland, making it one of the franchise’s most diverse projects. But some of The Acolyte’s cast members faced racist and hateful online harassment from toxic Star Wars fans outraged over the show’s inclusion of diverse characters.

“My feelings were hurt,” Lee admits when asked about the experience, after taking a pause. “Especially for Leslye Headland—her feelings must have hurt a lot.” Though Lee was aware of the passionate Star Wars fandom, he was still “shocked” by the racist backlash. The series was cancelled in August, meaning the first season’s multiple cliffhangers will never be resolved.

Despite the divisiveness of today’s culture, Lee has a positive attitude about the future. “I can only have faith that racism will end someday,” he says, “even though it’s going to be hard.” Lee is also optimistic that viewers will revisit The Acolyte. “For some work, it takes time to gain traction, and I have strong hopes that people will like it as time passes,” he says.

Lee is undeterred even by fandom that turns ugly. “As long as I am thankful,” he says, “all things will work out.” If he ever feels burdened by fans intruding into his personal life, “then I should quit my job. I shouldn’t think that way in dealing with fans,” he adds. “Fandom comes along with my career. This is the nature of it, so I can’t take it for granted. No matter what, I’m always thankful.”

He’s not slowing down, either. As Lee begins another grueling awards-season circuit, he’s toiling away on his second action-movie screenplay after successfully writing, starring, and directing the 2022 espionage thriller Hunt. He’s also continuing to appear in ad campaigns as Gucci’s global brand ambassador. Mostly, though, he’s relieved about putting one question behind him. “Fans always ask me, when is [Squid Game] season two coming out? I tell them, ‘Just wait a little bit longer,’” he says. “And now, I am finally able to talk about it. That brings the most joy.”