Im Siwan Says, "I've Heard All Kinds of Insults Worldwide as Myunggi in 'Squid Game 3'" [Interview]

Playing a Character Who Loses His Humanity and Makes Selfish Choices
"Acting Is Getting More Fun... I Will Keep Taking On New Challenges"

Im Siwan participated in an interview on the 2nd at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Netflix

"It's the first time I've heard so many different kinds of insults from around the world, but it actually feels like a compliment. I don't mind hearing more."

Im Siwan, whom I met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 2nd, calmly accepted the flood of criticism that followed the release of the Netflix series "Squid Game" Season 3 (Squid Game 3). He smiled and said, "I was already prepared for it with director Hwang Donghyuk from the time of filming."

"Squid Game 3" topped Netflix's TOP10 in 93 countries worldwide just three days after its release, recording a cumulative 60.1 million views.

The character Lee Myunggi, played by Im Siwan, is a former YouTuber who spread false investment information. After encouraging investments in "junk coins" through his channel and getting caught up in fraud allegations, he is buried in debt and enters the "Squid Game." At the game venue, he encounters his pregnant ex-girlfriend Junhee (played by Jo Yuri), which throws him into confusion. He gradually loses his humanity, even going so far as to use the newborn baby as a means of blackmail.

Director Hwang Donghyuk picked Lee Myunggi as the "most vicious character" in Season 3. Im Siwan said, "I didn't see him as a pure villain from the beginning. He's a character you can keep watching even while cursing at him," and added, "Humans are not simple. Myunggi is a villain, but at the same time, he's human."

He defined "Squid Game" as a story about human nature. "Humans are inherently set up to move in a selfish direction, but at the same time, we are capable of making altruistic choices. In the end, that's what it means to be human."

Im Siwan confessed that he felt a lot of pressure when he first accepted the role. He explained, "Myunggi knows his choices are wrong. Because of his unlikable side, I couldn't find a clear answer until the end while acting. The character is complicated, constantly torn between his conscience and his actions, so it wasn't easy."

The scene he agonized over the most was the moment in the final game when he tells someone to hand over the baby. Im Siwan said, "I was confused until the end about how cold-hearted he needed to be and to what extent he should show guilt." When asked if he really intended to harm the baby, he replied, "If Myunggi had survived, I don't think he would have abandoned the baby."

Regarding the jump rope game scene, he said, "I was genuinely worried, but Myunggi is a character with poor physical strength," and explained, "Junhee's injury was so serious that it would have been physically impossible for him to carry her and run."

In "Squid Game 3," Myunggi is suspicious of the game participants. Netflix

He pointed to the scene where Myunggi stabs his friend Hyunju as the turning point for the character. "That choice was an irreversible decision for Myunggi. Hyunju is the most righteous character across both Season 2 and 3, so stabbing someone like that meant Myunggi crossed the limit of his humanity," he said.

Regarding the line where he asks Junhee, "Are you in some kind of relationship?" he confessed, "No matter how much I thought about it, my heart couldn't follow." He added, "Myunggi said that to deceive himself. Even though he knew it was the wrong choice, he couldn't admit it, so he rationalized it as an excuse."

About the filming set, he said, "I put a lot of energy into getting into the right emotional state. That's why I felt even more drained." He recalled working with Lee Jungjae, saying, "Even off camera, he would squeeze into tight spaces to keep up with the lines and match my performance." About director Hwang, he said, "His preparation is thorough, but on set, he's so flexible that it surprised me."

Recently, Im Siwan has shown a darker side in the film "Emergency Declaration" (2022), the Netflix film "Unlocked" (2023), and "Squid Game 3." In his next project, "Samagwi," he will play a character who works for a contract killing organization. He laughed and said, "He's not a villain, but he does kill people." He also expressed his ambition to show a wider range of characters in the future.

"Acting is getting more and more fun. I want to be an actor who makes people curious, like, 'Im Siwan can do this kind of role too?'""Just like Tom Cruise, who parachutes out of helicopters at age 62, I want to be an actor who keeps taking on new challenges."

Currently, he is enjoying some time off from filming for the first time in a while. Im Siwan said, "Because I love acting so much, I realized that if I stay busy all the time, I might lose interest. That's why I'm deliberately taking a break. After resting enough, I'll choose my next project. I think this period will become the driving force for my future acting career."