Lee Byung-hun on ‘Squid Game’: ‘It became universal when we began to doubt whether there is truly humanity left in this world’
The universal appeal of Squid Game is explained by Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun, whom I got to interview in Seoul one-on-one, during the world premiere of Season 2 of the mega Netflix hit. He plays the Front Man, one of the main characters.
Byung-hun is a multi-awarded top-tier Korean actor with numerous movies and dramas under his belt. My personal favorites are Mr. Sunshine, A Bittersweet Life, The Man Standing Next, Once in a Summer, Iris and Our Blues. Let’s say that I am more than just familiar with his work.
I stumbled upon Squid Game when it came out in 2021, before I found out how overwhelming the reaction would become globally. The title caught my eye. I watched all nine episodes straight. I was shocked, then amazed, and it made me think deeply about the good and the bad in humanity. Aside from all the brutality and greed, though, kindness prevailed. However, a line from Player 001 O Il-nam stuck in my head. “Life is not worth living, is not fun, for the very rich and the very poor.” He goes on to explain that Squid Game was created to entertain the very jaded, very bored super rich.
In the interview, I asked Lee Byung-hun about his character and introspective questions on Squid Game.
PHILIPPINE STAR: Squid Game exposes the bad, but also the good in human nature. In season two, what are the prevailing good and bad characteristics of your role as the Front Man? In your opinion, is Front Man, the good or the bad guy? Why?
LEE BYUNG-HUN: In season two, the viewers will get to know the back story, the past of the Front Man, and his reasons or events that eventually led him to become a part of the game in the first place. However, despite all of that, there are going to be some moments when I think the viewers might even feel pity for the character, or understand the character a little bit. But at the end of the day, he is someone who chose evil, which led to so many people’s sacrifices as we’ve seen in the first season. I don’t think he is someone who can be forgiven. So, to answer your question, he leans more towards evil than good.
Your role in Season 2 is more prominent, focusing on the man behind the mask. Does Front Man have any vulnerabilities? What are they?
I think this is true of any character. There is some part of your past that, when you think about it, it cannot but just shake you up inside. And I think with the Front Man as well, something that is related to his past, while he seems like someone who cannot waver or be shaken from the outside, there is something that is connected to his past, that can really shake him.
Why do you think Squid Game resonates globally, even with different cultures? Is there a universal statement about life? If so, what is it?
I think, in a way, if it were before, a story like this may not have been as universally appealing as it has become today. The world continues to change, and I think that all these themes that Squid Game deals with have become universal from the moment when we began to doubt whether there is truly humanity left in this world. So from that perspective, as an actor, I am very happy to see the show get so much love and support globally. On the other hand, to think that the subject matters resonate so strongly with so many people around the world maybe shows how much more difficult everyone’s lives have gotten. Maybe that’s why these themes have gotten so universal. Thinking of it from that perspective does leave me with a bittersweet taste.
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In a separate interview, actors Kang Ae-sim and Yang Dong-geun, who play mother and son in the series, shared how excited they are for Squid Game 2.
Kang Ae-sim is a veteran actress who has appeared in notable dramas and movies such as Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Move to Heaven and Thirty-Nine, as well as movies like Wonderland and Concrete Utopia. Meanwhile Yang Dong-geun is a hip-hop recording artist and producer. He has also starred in dramas, films and theater productions.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances that brought your mother and son characters to Squid Game, there is obviously much love between them. How did you prepare for your roles and the chemistry between mother and son?
KANG AE-SIM: I try to learn from the performance of actor Kim Young-ok who played Gi-hun’s mom in Season 1. It was really helpful to watch her performance. I tried to fill myself up with that deep maternal love before going into the shoot. And having Yang Dong-geun next to me was also super helpful with his playful, cheeky, yet innocent vibes. I could really feel that. It really set in. So I was able to prepare for my role in a comfortable manner.
YANG DONG-GEUN: She’s a very great Korean actor, with 40 years of experience. At first I just wanted to understand how she wanted to approach things and how she wanted to build the chemistry between us. So I could act in line with that and follow in her footsteps. It really paid off because she did a brilliant job, and really helped with my acting as well. Everyone was impressed. All you have to do is what your sunbaenim (seniors) says.
As your story unfolds, what do you think is the lesson that can be learned from it?
KANG: I think everybody will be able to relate to the universal bond that mothers and sons/daughters have because that sticky, tight bond is there in the show. But the different thing is we are in the middle of life-and-death situations, those of desperation. Rather than sending a message, I think it’s up to the viewers to decide after watching the show.
YANG: To me, it seems like, when the director first pictured my character in his mind, he was, at first, much more fierce and brutal. But to me, even the worst, most mischievous child in the world would not be so bad in front of his mom. And he will always hide behind his mom. I learned that throughout the experience.
