[Interview] 'Ojingeo Game 2' Im Siwan: "Coin YouTuber Myeonggi Represents the Young Generation"

Binge-Watched Season 1... Joined Season 2 Without Reading the Script
Plays a YouTuber Who Falls Into Debt After Investing in Altcoins
Donation for Muan Jeju Air Tragedy: "My Heart Is Heavy"

Actor Im Si-wan. Provided by Netflix

Actor Im Si-wan (37) has been working nonstop on films and dramas since his discharge in 2019. Only now, after the release of Squid Game Season 2, is he taking a break. It’s a sweet time off granted after six years. When we met in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he said, “I eat brunch, fiddle with my phone, watch Netflix, and take a nap. When I wake up around 6 p.m., I go grocery shopping and cook dinner. I missed this ‘sleepyhead’ kind of daily routine.”

Im Si-wan is what people commonly call a “workhorse actor.” He steadily built up his portfolio like a model student. Starting with the drama Hellbound (2019), he appeared in Run On (2020), Tracer, I Don’t Want to Do Anything (2022), the OTT Coupang Play series Youth (2023), Netflix’s Smartphone Dropped, as well as films like Emergency Declaration (2022) and 1947 Boston (2023). He is also meeting viewers through the Netflix series Squid Game Season 2 (hereafter ‘Squid Game 2’), released on the 26th of last month.

Script in Pieces, Massive Sets, Season 3... Behind the Scenes of ‘Squid Game 2’

Im Si-wan said he was a fan of Squid Game Season 1, released in 2021. Recalling that time, he spoke with excitement. “I watched it immediately as soon as it was released, even before the overseas reactions came out. I watched it all in one sitting. The material was so fresh that it defied genre classification. When I saw the Front Man take off his mask in the final scene, I was shocked and called Lee Byung-hun asking, ‘Was that you, sunbaenim?’ I eagerly awaited Season 2.”

His fandom motivated him to appear in ‘Squid Game 2.’ Im Si-wan recalled, “It’s the only work I agreed to do without reading the script. I didn’t even know what role it was, but before they finished asking if I wanted to appear, I said ‘Yes.’”

Temporary photo of Im Si-wan on the set of 'Squid Game 2'. Photo by Netflix

Recalling his first time on the set, Im Si-wan said, “It felt like a Harry Potter fan visiting a theme park.” He watched the released work like a fan. “Actors only received scripts for their own parts. We didn’t really know about other roles. I saw the parts of senior actors Jeon Seok-ho and Oh Dal-soo for the first time when the show was released. For the parts I wasn’t in, I watched as a fan,” he said.

In the drama, Im Si-wan plays coin YouTuber Lee Myung-gi. He encouraged subscribers to invest in the altcoin Dalmatian, which led some subscribers and himself into debt. This prompted Myung-gi to join the game wearing number 333. Myung-gi also disappeared after his girlfriend told him she was pregnant. Im Si-wan said, “When I first read the script, I recognized Myung-gi as a ‘villain.’ But director Hwang Dong-hyuk didn’t see him that way. Throughout filming, I tried to find his human side.” He added, “It delves into the fundamental issues of human goodness and evil.”

Interpreting Myung-gi as a symbol of the ‘young generation,’ Im Si-wan said, “The young generation has many choices and diverse directions in life. They live in a complex world with various ways to survive. But if they choose the wrong path, there are consequences. Myung-gi shows that.”

After the release, there was some online reevaluation of coin YouTuber Myung-gi, sparked by the recent rise in Bitcoin prices. Im Si-wan laughed, “I own Bitcoin, but you shouldn’t listen to Myung-gi who messed with altcoins.” He continued, “I actually bought Bitcoin and didn’t sell it. When I checked, it had gone up a bit from when I bought it. I didn’t buy it for any particular reason, just to keep up with the times, so I bought a small amount to learn about it.”

Im Si-wan attending the fan event and premiere in LA, USA. Provided by Netflix.

Among the attractive roles in the drama, he pointed to Jeong-bae (played by Lee Seo-hwan). Jeong-bae is a friend of Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, and is regarded as one of the most memorable characters by viewers. Im Si-wan said, “Jeong-bae is a reliable friend with a humorous side. He shows heartfelt loyalty when Gi-hun needs him. He’s the most lovable character in Season 2.”

‘Squid Game’ filmed Seasons 2 and 3 simultaneously. The ending of Season 2 is incomplete and the story continues into Season 3. When asked if he expects Myung-gi to play a big role in Season 3, Im Si-wan replied, “Myung-gi doesn’t have a major role in Season 3. The relationship between Myung-gi and Jun-hee (played by Jo Yu-ri) remains a question, so please watch to see how that unfolds.”

‘Praying Mantis’ Is My Destiny: “Once Again with Director Byun Sung-hyun”

Im Si-wan recently filmed the Netflix movie Praying Mantis, which is scheduled for release within the year. He reunited with director Byun Sung-hyun, who directed the 2017 film The Merciless. He said, “When I was filming Gil Bok-soon, director Byun contacted me to do voice acting for the Praying Mantis role. The voice acting didn’t happen, but I learned about Praying Mantis. I thought, ‘If Praying Mantis gets made, I’ll do it.’ Later, when I heard about the production, I felt it was fate and thought, ‘Of course, I have to do it.’”

Actor Im Si-wan. Provided by Netflix

Im Si-wan recently donated relief funds for the Jeju Air passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport, Jeollanam-do, to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association. He did not disclose the donation amount. He said, “It’s a tragedy that should never have happened, and my heart is heavy. I wanted to help in any way I could. I couldn’t find a proper way, so donating was the only thing I could do. I hope such an incident never happens again.”