Although the Rebellion Failed, Seong Gihun Achieved Victory Simply by Returning
Season 3 Embarks on a Journey Toward New Questions
Impossible to Correct Participants' Beliefs... Aiming for Systemic Overthrow
"Rather than trying to convey a message, I wanted to ask questions. Amid the various side effects that arise in a capitalist society, I wanted to ask, 'Can humanity create a better future?' and 'Can we pass on a sustainable world to the next generation?'"
These are the words of director Hwang Dong-hyuk, ahead of the release of Netflix's 'Squid Game' Season 3. At a press conference held at Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on June 9, he stated, "I wanted to raise important questions for our society."
The foundation of this story that prompts questions is the confrontation between Seong Gihun (Lee Jungjae) and the Front Man (Lee Byunghun). Seong Gihun does not succumb to fear when he returns to the game. Even when his life is at stake, he demonstrates civic consciousness. He shares survival strategies with other participants and urges that the game be stopped. With his unique courage, which overcomes cognitive dissonance, he sparks collective action.
The Front Man, on the other hand, continues to suffer from cognitive dissonance. He regards the participants, whom he considers inferior, as evil, and rationalizes his actions by believing he has justifiable reasons. He acts according to his own unique moral code, which he believes is superior to common morality. Any resulting pangs of conscience are alleviated through self-exoneration, avoidance of responsibility, and dehumanization.
Director Hwang said, "It is a confrontation of beliefs and a battle of values," adding, "It will be interesting to see how the conversation about 'faith in humanity' that Seong Gihun and the Front Man had in the early part of Season 2 is concluded in Season 3."
In fact, the outcome has already been decided. The ideology established by the Front Man collapsed with the return of Seong Gihun. This is because, even after experiencing a hellish world, Seong Gihun was reborn as a mature and devoted human being. He ignited hope that we can overcome social injustice ourselves. This was not a victory won by chance, as in Squid Game. It was a brilliant achievement, accomplished by not betraying his conscience and upholding human dignity.
The failure of the rebellion that Seong Gihun led with the other participants is not a defeat. Rather, it is the starting point for another question. Director Hwang explained, "Season 3 depicts how Seong Gihun, after losing his closest friend Jungbae and hitting rock bottom with guilt and despair, manages to find his way forward again."
Lee Jungjae said, "If Seong Gihun initially returned with the intention of 'stopping the game' and 'punishing those who created it,' he now contemplates and transforms, asking himself, 'What should I do inside the game arena?'"
The key is how much influence he can exert, given that he failed to persuade the majority of participants. The participants have already split into two groups over whether to continue the game. At the root of this division is confirmation bias, a problem that has become prominent in our society recently. People seek out and retain information that supports their beliefs, while rejecting information that contradicts them.
Some individuals, even when confronted with evidence that contradicts their firmly held beliefs, become even more entrenched in those beliefs rather than changing their minds. In psychology, this tendency for existing prejudices to be reinforced by resistance is called the backfire effect.
It appears impossible for Seong Gihun to completely correct this. This is because the participants who want to continue the game display a strong tendency toward conformity. Conformity is different from obeying a leader or following orders. It is a voluntary action, where people choose to go along with the group rather than make their own judgments.
When many people choose conformity over truth, even under very simple conditions, it is not hard to imagine how much such habits can affect our lives. Even if change occurs, it does not happen quickly or proceed in a consistent manner. This is true no matter how well-intentioned the effort may be.
Reducing individual biases does not mean that imbalance and unfairness in social activities will disappear. In reality, things are far more complex than in Squid Game. There are legacies of unfair structures built on historical exclusion, unequal opportunities, exploitative economic policies, and corrupt foundations. Only major systemic change or upheaval can correct such massive and long-standing injustices. As the conclusion of 'Squid Game,' Season 3 must serve as a testing ground for that possibility.
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