When the first season of Netflix’s survival thriller wrapped up, everyone was talking about the hair. That bright, almost aggressive red dye job Seong Gi-hun rocked in the final minutes. Most fans thought it was a symbol of his rage. Some thought it was just a weird stylistic choice. But if you’ve followed Lee Jung-jae through his decades-long career in South Korea, you know he doesn't do anything by accident.
Lee Jung-jae in Squid Game wasn't just a role; it was a total demolition of his "pretty boy" image that had lasted for thirty years. Before he was the desperate, dirt-poor Player 456, he was the ultimate suave leading man. Think of him as the South Korean equivalent of George Clooney or Brad Pitt. Seeing him eat cold sprouts and get slapped in a subway station was a genuine shock for Korean audiences.
Why Lee Jung-jae and Squid Game Changed Everything
Honestly, the global explosion of the show caught everyone off guard, including the cast. Lee has been a massive star since the 90s. He debuted in Dinosaur Teacher in 1993 and became a household name with Sandglass. But Squid Game did something different. It turned a veteran actor into a "newcomer" for the Western world.
People often forget how much he actually risked. He wasn't some starving artist looking for a break. He was an established icon. Playing a man who steals from his mother and gambles away his life could have backfired. Instead, it won him an Emmy—the first for an Asian actor in a non-English series.
That Emmy wasn't just a trophy. It was a signal. It told Hollywood that language is a "one-inch tall barrier," as Bong Joon-ho famously put it. Lee proved that you can lead a global phenomenon without speaking a word of English on screen.
The Evolution of Seong Gi-hun in Season 2 and 3
We’ve officially moved past the "is it happening?" phase. As of 2026, we’ve seen the full arc of the series. If you haven't caught up, Season 2 (released December 2024) and the final Season 3 (June 2025) changed the vibe completely.
In the first season, Gi-hun was a passenger. He was lucky. In the later chapters, Lee Jung-jae portrays a man who has lost his "bouncy" optimism. The actor actually went on an extreme diet to look more "hollowed out" for the final episodes. He wanted to show the psychological toll of winning.
- Season 1: Desperate, gambling addict, reactive.
- Season 2: Driven by revenge, tactical, serious.
- Season 3: A tragic figure trying to dismantle the system from within.
It’s interesting because Lee has said in interviews that he found the "dark" Gi-hun harder to play than the "loser" Gi-hun. He felt a huge weight of responsibility. He wasn't just playing a character anymore; he was the face of a culture.
Breaking the "Squid Game" Curse
Usually, when an actor hits a role this big, they get stuck. They become "The Squid Game Guy" forever. Lee dodged this brilliantly. He didn't just sit around waiting for Netflix checks. He directed Hunt, a political thriller that was surprisingly good.
Then he joined the Star Wars universe.
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Playing Master Sol in The Acolyte was a massive swing. He had to learn English for the role while maintaining the dignity of a Jedi. It showed his range. He could be a gritty survivor in Seoul one day and a stoic warrior in a galaxy far, far away the next.
What Actually Happened with the Production?
There’s a lot of myth-making around the filming. People think it was all high-tech and easy. In reality, the set was grueling. Lee has mentioned that the "Tug-of-War" and "Glass Bridge" scenes were physically exhausting. They weren't just acting tired; they were actually spent.
The creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, spent years trying to get the show made. Lee was one of the few who saw the vision early on. He basically bet his reputation on a script that most studios called "too weird" or "unrealistic."
The Actionable Insight: What We Can Learn from Lee’s Journey
If you’re looking at Lee Jung-jae's career post-Squid Game, the takeaway isn't just "get lucky with a Netflix show." It’s about reinvention.
- Don't get comfortable. Lee was at the top of his game in Korea and chose to play a pathetic character that stripped away his glamour.
- Skill over language. He focused on the emotional truth of the scene. That’s what resonated in 90+ countries.
- Control your narrative. By moving into directing and producing, he ensured he wasn't just a pawn in the Hollywood machine.
The "Squid Game" era might be concluding as the series wraps its final season, but Lee’s footprint is permanent. He didn't just star in a show; he opened a door.
If you want to understand the full depth of his work, you really should check out his directorial debut Hunt. It gives you a much better look at his creative brain than the green tracksuit ever could. Also, keep an eye on his upcoming production projects—he’s moved from being the face of the industry to being one of its biggest architects.