Lee Byung-hun on Squid Game Season 3 Secrets

TL;DR

Squid Game Season 3 will reveal the Front Man’s identity to more players, feature him in another game, and include both new and returning games. Lee Byung-hun says he is happy with the final season’s ending, while a Front Man spin-off remains only a possibility. He also recalls keeping his Season 1 role secret and explaining acting to his confused son.

Transcript

-Welcome, welcome. Welcome to the show. -Thank you for having me here. -I'm so excited to have you here. This is amazing. For anyone who might not know your work before "Squid Game," I just want to let everyone know. Uh, Lee Byung-hun, you've been making movies for over 30 years and have won countless awards in South Korea. You've, uh -- sure. -[ A... Read More

Key Insights

• Squid Game is a Korean story made by a Korean director, Korean actors, and in the Korean language. Lee Byung-hun says the strong reactions from fans in Los Angeles and New York surprised him and made him feel both grateful and proud.
• Lee Byung-hun’s initial assessment was that the Squid Game script had an interesting story and a highly unusual structure. Because he also viewed the concept as experimental, he thought the production might become either a huge hit or a complete failure.
• The Front Man reveal was kept secret at Netflix’s request. Lee did not disclose his role even to close friends or his mother, who later scolded him because she felt embarrassed when her friends called after discovering that he appeared in the series.
• The Front Man’s mask severely restricts Lee Byung-hun’s vision. He compares the experience to looking through a pigeonhole and says stairs are particularly difficult, requiring him to rely on his other senses while still walking naturally for the performance.
• Lee Byung-hun’s son initially struggled to separate his father from the violent characters he portrayed. After hearing about Squid Game from school friends, the boy asked why his father was mean, killed people, and treated T.O.P.’s character Thanos so harshly.
• Season 3 reveals the Front Man’s real identity to more players. Lee confirms this through the interview’s yes-or-no spoiler game, providing a direct clue about the character’s changing relationship with other participants during the final season.
• Season 3 includes another game played by the Front Man and brings back at least one old game alongside new games. Lee confirms both details but refuses to clarify whether another person is also in charge of Squid Game besides his character.
• A Front Man spin-off is possible but not confirmed. Lee initially gives an affirmative response before clarifying that he is uncertain, while also stating that he is happy with how the third and final season reaches its conclusion.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was Lee Byung-hun surprised by Squid Game’s success?

Lee Byung-hun considered the script interesting and structurally unique, but he also thought it was highly experimental. His prediction was that the series would become either a huge hit or a complete failure. He was later shocked by the reactions from fans during promotional visits to Los Angeles and New York, especially because the production was entirely rooted in Korean storytelling, talent, and language.

Q: What did Lee Byung-hun initially think of the Squid Game script?

Lee Byung-hun thought the script presented a very interesting story through a highly unusual structure. At the same time, he believed its approach was experimental enough to make its prospects uncertain. He therefore saw two sharply different possibilities: it could become a huge hit, or it could fail completely. He did not claim that he knew its eventual success was guaranteed.

Q: Why did Lee Byung-hun hide his Front Man role from his family?

Netflix asked Lee Byung-hun to keep the Front Man reveal secret, so he did not tell anyone, including close friends and his mother. After the series opened, his mother called and yelled at him for withholding the information. She said she had felt embarrassed when her friends contacted her about his unexpected appearance, while Lee defended himself by explaining that it was a secret.

Q: What was it like acting in the Front Man’s mask?

The Front Man’s mask gave Lee Byung-hun what he describes as a pigeonhole view, meaning he could barely see while wearing it. Moving upstairs or downstairs was especially difficult. He had to rely more heavily on his other senses, yet he still needed to walk naturally so the character retained his controlled and imposing physical presence instead of appearing cautious or unsteady.

Q: Why did Lee Byung-hun’s son think he was evil?

Lee Byung-hun’s 10-year-old son apparently heard about Squid Game from friends at school, even though he was not supposed to watch it. The boy became sad and asked why his father was so mean and had killed many people. He was also upset about the Front Man hitting Thanos, a character played by T.O.P., with whom the child was close.

Q: How did Lee Byung-hun explain acting to his son?

Lee Byung-hun told his son that the violence he saw or heard about was acting and emphasized that he was an actor, a loving father, and a good person outside the story. He felt the boy did not completely understand the distinction yet. A similar confusion occurred earlier when his young son saw a G.I. Joe clip and believed his father’s weapon was real.

Q: What Season 3 spoilers did Lee Byung-hun confirm?

Lee Byung-hun confirms that more players will learn the Front Man’s real identity during Season 3. He also indicates that viewers will see the Front Man participate in a game again and that at least one old game will return alongside the new games. However, he does not reveal whether someone besides the Front Man is also controlling Squid Game.

Q: Will there be a Front Man spin-off after Squid Game?

A Front Man spin-off is presented only as a possibility, not a confirmed production. Lee Byung-hun initially responds positively when asked about the idea, then immediately clarifies that he is not sure whether it will happen. He leaves the future open by saying that nobody knows what may occur, while confirming that he is satisfied with the final season’s ending.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lee Byung-hun describes Squid Game as a Korean story created by a Korean director, performed by Korean actors, and presented in the Korean language. Despite his long career and participation in Hollywood blockbusters, he was shocked by the enthusiastic fan response during promotional visits to Los Angeles and New York.

• When Lee first read the script, he found its story interesting and its structure highly unusual. He also considered the project experimental, so he believed it could become either a huge success or a complete failure. Its eventual international reception left him feeling grateful and proud of the Korean production.

• During a spoiler game, Lee indicates that more players will discover the Front Man’s identity, the character will participate in a Season 3 game, and old games will return alongside new ones. He declines to reveal whether someone else controls the competition and calls a Front Man spin-off merely possible.