Lee Jung Jae Breaks Silence On “Squid Game 2” Backlash

Korean star Lee Jung Jae has finally addressed the mixed reactions to the second season of Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game, acknowledging the range of opinions while offering insight into the production decisions that shaped the show’s release.
Specifically, Lee revealed a lot about the controversial decision regarding the second season’s ending.

The actor — who reprised his role as Seong Gi Hun in the highly anticipated sequel — spoke candidly about the show’s reception in a recent interview with MK. He opened up about the creative choices made during production, particularly regarding the season’s release strategy.
me after watching #SquidGame2 ending at the cliffhanger and wasting 7 hours of my time only to get nothing in return
pic.twitter.com/2FDl0ZlFKa— 𓅪 (@alfiyastic) December 26, 2024
Less games, shorter episodes and we ending it on a cliffhanger #SquidGame2 #SquidGame pic.twitter.com/fOKAA6i5zy
— 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊♡ (@Neptune_Leo22) December 26, 2024
Boring ass ending. Can Netflix stop fucking around and actually finish their stories for once? #SquidGame2 and if my girl dies I will riot, only useful person in their team 😭 pic.twitter.com/VAiz6pEYnt
— Happi (@HappiiFunTime) December 26, 2024
In his answer, Lee suggested that the cliffhanger in the season’s final scene might be the reason behind the bad reviews.
Looking back now, I do wonder whether we should have ended it where we did. But if we had waited to complete all 13 episodes before releasing them, we wouldn’t have known when they’d be ready—maybe sometime next year?
That could have made it feel too disconnected from Season 1, which would have been uncomfortable in its own way. I’m sure Netflix and the director spent an enormous amount of time deliberating over this.
— Lee Jung Jae

Despite this, the actor maintained a balanced perspective on the criticism, viewing it as an inherent part of the creative process.
Besides, every project faces criticism, doesn’t it? That’s a completely natural part of the process, and something we encounter all the time. That’s why I believe it’s important to carefully consider all feedback.
— Lee Jung Jae

Looking ahead, Lee even shared some encouraging news for fans. He heavily suggested that some complaints could be fixed in post-production of the show’s third and final season. He claims that the team will now be able to refine things in the final editing process, thanks to the viewers’ feedback.
Moreover, since Season 3 is currently in post-production, I see this as an opportunity — we still have room to refine things and make them even better through the final editing process.
— Lee Jung Jae
The final season of ‘SQUID GAME’ releases on Netflix on June 27. pic.twitter.com/RK2m7PYB99
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 30, 2025
Seems like the creative team behind Squid Game is actively working to deliver an improved viewing experience, taking into account the lessons learned from season 2’s reception.