One last jump for survival: the final game for Squid Game begins

Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun face off in the conclusion of Squid Game on Jun. 27.

In Season 2 of Squid Game, the Front Man (left, played by Lee Byung-hun) disguised himself as a contestant. In Season 3, he returns as the game’s organizer, driving participants to their limits. All eyes are on how the protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) will manage to overcome him. /Courtesy of Netflix

The groundbreaking Korean series Squid Game is finally coming to an end. Season 3, set to be released four years after the first season debuted in 2021, will bring the story to a close. In 2022, Squid Game became the first non-English-language series to win an Emmy, the highest honor in American television. Since its premiere, Season 1 has remained the most-watched Netflix title of all time, cementing its status as a global phenomenon.

Season 3, which follows the final journey of its emotionally complex protagonist Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), is set to be released at 4 p.m. KST on Jun. 27. At a premiere event held in New York on Jun. 18, director Hwang Dong-hyuk said, “We worked really hard to show Season 3 quickly. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

Season 3 continues the story from Season 2, which was released late last year. Hwang originally conceived the post-Season 1 story as a single narrative. While it was filmed in one production cycle, it was split into two separate releases: Season 2 (seven episodes) and Season 3 (six episodes). The new season follows Gi-hun, the winner of the original Squid Game, as he reenters the deadly competition with the intent to end it once and for all. He confronts the game’s overseer, the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun). In the game, participants facing extreme hardship compete in life-or-death challenges for a 45.6 billion won prize. The series explores how morality and humanity are tested under extreme pressure.

Previously the tagger in the “Red Light, Green Light” game, Young-hee now spins a rope in season3. /Courtesy of Netflix

Unlike Season 1, Season 2 received more mixed reactions from viewers. Much of the season was focused on building up to Gi-hun’s final confrontation. Controversy also surrounded some cast members’ backgrounds and performances. These issues are expected to be resolved in the final season. With many supporting characters eliminated in Season 2, Season 3 will focus on the remaining players and is expected to deliver a more concentrated and intense narrative.

The finale is set to feature upgraded visual and sound elements. Previewed scenes include one in which contestants jump over a rope turned by the iconic Young-hee doll, high above the ground, and another in which they navigate a maze set against a star-lit alley backdrop. Hwang also teased a hidden game not shown in the trailer. But the central question is how Gi-hun, who still believes in humanity, will bring the long game to an end. At a press event, Lee said, “Gi-hun rises from despair and ultimately acts on the belief that, ‘This is what I must do.’”

Beyond its commercial success, Squid Game elevated the global profile of Korean dramas and inspired confidence among creators at home. By incorporating Korean childhood games like red light, green light and dalgona cutting into its survival-game format, the show resonated with viewers worldwide. Korean audiences felt nostalgic, while international viewers were drawn to its originality. The blend of creative game design, strong visuals and universal themes became a benchmark for global storytelling success.

To celebrate the finale, a large festival will take place this weekend. On June 28 at 7:30 p.m., a parade will be held from Gwanghwamun to Seoul Plaza, featuring series icons like the Young-hee doll and pink guards. At 8:30 p.m., a fan event featuring cast members from Seasons 1 to 3 and director Hwang will be held at Seoul Plaza. The event is open to the public and will also be live-streamed online.