Squid Game's Shocking Finale - Lee Jung-jae Gets Real About That Bold Ending and the Madness Behind the Scenes

Time of India

a day ago

The Ending That Broke the Internet (And
Lee Jung-jae
's Diet)
So,
Squid Game Season 3
finally dropped on June 27, and the world basically lost its mind. But what did Lee Jung-jae-the OG Seong Gi-hun and probably the most famous South Korean on the planet right now-think about the show's wild finale? Over coffee in Seoul, Lee admitted, "It's really over now," sounding like every college student after their last exam.
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He wondered if he'd ever get to talk about Squid Game again, but honestly, with the way this show has taken over memes, reels, and every group chat, we doubt it's ever truly over.
Lee didn't just star in all three seasons-he owned the role, even snagging an Emmy for Best Actor in 2022 (first Asian to do it, by the way). When asked about the most unforgettable moment, he instantly picked the "final ending" of Season 3. He confessed, "To be honest, I never imagined such an ending.
But I was amazed by the director's courage." Apparently, the director knew the ending would split fans right down the middle, but he stuck to his guns and wrapped things up for real, ignoring the temptation to milk more seasons for cash.
That last scene? It took a whole day to shoot. Lee had to channel every emotion in the book, filming take after take with different faces and vibes. It was so intense that Lee joked, "Thanks to that, I was finally able to end the diet that helped me lose 10 kilograms."
Relatable-who hasn't stress-eaten after a big project?
The Characters That Hit Different
When it comes to characters, Lee says Cho Sang-woo (played by Park Hae-soo) from Season 1 left the deepest mark. Sang-woo, the neighborhood genius who crashed and burned after a failed investment, is the ultimate "what could have been" story. Lee reflected, "Squid Game is ultimately a story about choices. As I thought about why Sang-woo made those choices, I felt more pity than a sense of betrayal."
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If you've ever had a friend who seemed to have it all but still struggled, you know exactly what he means.
Behind the Scenes: The Pressure and the Paychecks
Lee's not just an actor-he made his directorial debut with "Hunt" in 2022, so he knows the grind from both sides. With all the drama lately about K-drama stars' sky-high fees and ballooning production costs, Lee kept it real: "The content industry must not regress because of this issue.
It's not any one person's fault, but everyone in the industry surely feels the need for improvement." Sounds a lot like Bollywood, where everyone's always debating star salaries and whether it's killing creativity.
Why
K-Content
Is Just Getting Started
For Lee, Squid Game is more than just a show-it's a gateway that introduced global audiences to K-content. He hopes this door stays wide open, even as the Korean film market faces some tough times.
"The domestic film market is quite stagnant right now, but I hope K-content, which has just started to gain momentum, continues to spread steadily across the world," he said.
Let's be honest: whether you're binge-watching in Mumbai or Seoul, Squid Game's mix of hustle, heartbreak, and hard choices hits home. It's about survival, ambition, and the wild ride of chasing your dreams-stuff every Indian youth can relate to, whether you're grinding for a job, a degree, or just a little respect.