When Squid Game first hit Netflix, nobody really expected a middle-aged guy in a green tracksuit to become a global icon. But here we are. If you’re asking who played Seong Gi-hun, the answer is Lee Jung-jae.
He didn't just play the role. He lived it.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about how much Lee Jung-jae’s life changed after that first season. Before 2021, he was already a massive A-list star in South Korea. We're talking three decades of leading roles, high-fashion modeling, and a reputation for being one of the most charismatic men in the industry. Then, he decided to play a "loser."
The Man Behind Player 456
Lee Jung-jae was born on December 15, 1972, in Seoul. He’s 53 now, though you wouldn’t necessarily know it by looking at his recent Hollywood red carpet appearances. He didn't start out wanting to be an actor. Actually, he was discovered while working at a café in the trendy Apgujeong-dong neighborhood of Gangnam. A designer named Ha Yong-soo saw him and basically said, "You need to be a model."
He did the modeling thing for a while, but the screen called. His breakout was a drama called Sandglass in 1995. If you haven't seen it, he played a silent, stoic bodyguard. Korean audiences fell in love with him instantly.
Fast forward to 2021. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk wanted someone who could "destroy their charismatic image." He chose Lee Jung-jae to be Seong Gi-hun because he knew the audience needed to feel sorry for him, but also root for him.
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It worked.
The messy hair, the desperate grin, the way he licked that honeycomb candy—it was a total departure from the sleek, suited-up roles he was known for.
Why Lee Jung-jae Still Matters in 2026
It’s easy to forget how much of a "first" he was. When he won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2022, he wasn't just another winner. He was the first Asian man to take home that specific trophy. He was the first person from a non-English show to do it.
Since then, his career has basically gone into orbit. You might have spotted him as Master Sol in the Star Wars series The Acolyte. Even though that show had its ups and downs with critics, people generally agreed that Lee brought a grounded, soulful energy to the Jedi Order.
But for most of us, he’s still Gi-hun.
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What Happened to Seong Gi-hun? (Spoilers for Seasons 2 & 3)
By the time Season 3 wrapped up in 2025, the character of Seong Gi-hun had gone through a meat grinder. If you remember the end of the first season, he had that dyed red hair—a signal that the "nice guy" was gone.
In the later seasons, Lee Jung-jae had to play a much darker version of the character.
- He became a "moral insurgent."
- He stopped being the victim and started hunting the creators.
- He even went back into the game, but this time, he was the one with the plan.
Critics were a bit split on this. Some felt Gi-hun became too cold, while others (like me) thought it was the only logical way for someone to survive that much trauma. Lee himself said in interviews that he had to go on a strict diet and basically "reshape his face" to look as haunted as Gi-hun felt.
The Paycheck and the Power
If you’re wondering if it was worth it for him—yeah, definitely. Reports from 2025 and early 2026 suggest Lee Jung-jae became the highest-paid Korean actor in history. We're talking roughly $1 million per episode for the final seasons.
He’s not just an actor anymore, either. He’s a director (his film Hunt was a hit) and a businessman. Along with his long-time best friend Jung Woo-sung, he co-founded Artist Company, a talent agency that manages some of the biggest names in Seoul.
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How to Follow His Work Today
If you’ve finished Squid Game and you're wondering where to see the man who played Seong Gi-hun next, you’ve got options. He’s currently preparing to direct his second feature film, which is slated to start production later this year in 2026.
He’s also rumored to be looking at more Hollywood scripts, specifically in the thriller genre.
What you should do next:
If you want to see the "charismatic" version of Lee Jung-jae that Director Hwang was trying to hide, go watch New World (2013) or The Thieves (2012). It’s a complete 180 from the desperate, debt-ridden Player 456. Watching those really shows you just how much range it took for him to pull off Gi-hun’s transformation.
Check his official Artist Company profile or his Instagram for the latest on his 2026 directing project. It’s expected to be a massive production, and given his track record, it’ll probably be the next big thing on the international festival circuit.