Lee Jung-jae shares how he mentally and physically transformed to portray a darker Gi-hun in “Squid Game” Season 3.
📅 Squid Game Season 3 Premieres June 27 Only On Netflix
As “Squid Game” Season 3 prepares to hit Netflix on June 27, fans are bracing for the final, emotionally charged chapter of a series that became a global sensation.
And no one is more in tune with that emotional gravity than Lee Jung-jae, who returns as the conflicted but compelling Seong Gi-hun, aka Player 456.
In an exclusive interview, the Emmy-winning actor opened up about how he embodied a darker, more broken version of the character—one shaped by trauma, loss, and a final mission that may cost him everything.
🧠 From Desperation To Depth: Gi-hun’s Full Circle
When we first met Gi-hun in Season 1, he was a struggling, indebted chauffeur—divorced, addicted to gambling, and barely keeping it together. But despite his flaws, we saw glimmers of his heart: his kindness toward Player 001, his bond with Sae-byeok, and the soul-crushing guilt he carried with each death.
By the end of Season 1, he had transformed from a man clinging to survival into someone seeking justice—even at great personal cost.
“So I hope viewers of Season 3 will follow Gi-hun’s journey closely and, no matter what choices he makes, try to understand him,” Lee said.
🎭 Lee Jung-jae On Becoming Gi-hun (Again)
Playing Gi-hun again wasn’t just about stepping into familiar shoes—it was about exploring how far a person can fall before breaking entirely.
“In order to maintain Gi-hun’s emotional energy, I actually kept some distance from the crew on set,” Lee revealed. “I ended up eating most of my meals alone… to stay in that emotional headspace.”
🥀 A Physical And Emotional Descent
Season 3 demanded a more tortured version of Gi-hun, and Lee didn’t rely on makeup or prosthetics to bring that to life.
“I went on a diet. I wanted to naturally show the atmosphere of someone who couldn’t eat and was trapped in deep inner conflict… So I pushed myself to lose weight pretty intensely.”
That level of method commitment, sustained for nearly a year, allowed Lee to embody Gi-hun’s pain in a visceral, visible way.
“All of those internal and external efforts made me feel a much deeper attachment to Gi-hun. And I think that really helped me understand him better.”
🎥 Watch Lee Jung-jae Reflect On Gi-hun’s Final Chapter
💭 What Will Gi-hun Choose In The End?
“Squid Game” Season 3 promises the final reckoning for Gi-hun—a man who’s lost everything and now faces a moral and emotional war.
Will he destroy the game from within? Will he lose himself in the process?
One thing’s for sure—Lee Jung-jae is ready to take us all the way to the bitter, bloody end.
Will you be watching? Drop down in the comments with your Season 3 theories!
More ‘Squid Game’ Season 3
- ‘Squid Game’ Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk Reveals The One Question He Hopes Viewers Ask Themselves
- Yim Si-wan & Jo Yu-ri Talk Consequences, Resilience, And Survival In ‘Squid Game’ Season
- Kang Ae-sim Returns As Geum-ja In ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 With Fierce Motherly Strength
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