Lee Jung-jae, one of Korea’s most prominent actors, is currently experiencing an unstoppable rise in his second prime. To Koreans, the name Lee Jung-jae immediately brings to mind several iconic dramas and films:
Works That Shine with Lee Jung-jae’s Brilliant Performances
- “Sandglass”: Played Baek Jae-hee, a bodyguard in a story that unfolds through pivotal events in modern Korean history.
- “The Face Reader”: Delivered an overwhelming presence as Grand Prince Suyang in the Joseon Dynasty.
- “New World”: Portrayed Lee Ja-sung, a police officer who infiltrates the mob and eventually becomes its leader.
- “Assassination”: Took on the role of Yeom Seok-jin, a freedom fighter during the Japanese colonial period who turns traitor by collaborating with the Japanese.
- “Operation Chromite”: Played Captain Jang Hak-soo, the leader of a special unit disguised as North Korean soldiers to ensure the success of the Incheon Landing Operation.
- “Along with the Gods”: Portrayed a charismatic King of the Underworld.
Notably, Grand Prince Suyang’s entrance scene in The Face Reader is regarded as one of the most iconic in Korean cinema, vividly showcasing the essence of charisma.
Squid Game: The Complex Journey of Seong Gi-hun
In Squid Game, Lee Jung-jae transforms into Seong Gi-hun, a man who loses his job due to corporate restructuring, goes through a divorce, and struggles with debt while barely making it through each day. Even when his elderly mother gives him money to buy a birthday gift for his daughter, he gambles it away at the racetrack, perfectly capturing the pitiful life of a man at rock bottom. However, through the death games in Squid Game, he reveals a completely different side, attempting to stop the game and save as many lives as possible.
Seong Gi-hun is not someone positioned to help others, yet he consistently assists those in worse situations than himself. Even after surviving the death games, he devotes himself to saving others from the same fate. He uses the entirety of the 45.6 billion KRW prize money to help others and eventually decides to re-enter the deadly Squid Game to save others, even at the cost of his own life.
“Squid Game Season 3” and Lee Jung-jae’s Future
Squid Game seems to encapsulate all the roles Lee Jung-jae has played throughout his career. While fans eagerly anticipate the release of Squid Game Season 3, the expectation for Lee Jung-jae’s future performances, which are bound to be just as impactful, continues to grow.
