“Asked the exact question to the director”: Lee Byung-hun opens up about his character’s evolution and conflict in Squid Game Season 3

Lee Byung-hun, one of the most celebrated Korean actors, emerged as the breakthrough character of the Front Man in Squid Game Season 3.

The Front Man, the great enigma and anti-hero of Hwang Dong-hyuk's hit Korean series, was introduced as the masked overseer of the game, who silently viewed the deadly contest with a disturbing detachment.

However, the Squid Game Season 3 finale saw a shift in the Front Man's character after he saw Seong Gi-hun's ultimate sacrifice and his unwavering faith in humanity.

While fans interpreted Lee Byung-gun's character's actions in the finale (towards Gi-hun's daughter) as hopeful, many thought it was a set-up for another vicious cycle of the deadly games.

Discussing this dilemma, the actor revealed to The Hollywood Reporter:

''I asked that exact question to the director when we were filming...He’s had a little bit of humanity restored and he’s offering what Gi-hun left behind with a little sliver of the goodness that’s left in his heart.''

More on this in our story.

The Front Man's enigma continued in Squid Game Season 3

For fans who hoped that Squid Game Season 3 would shed some much-needed light on the Front Man's character, the final chapter of the thriller series ended with more questions than answers about its anti-hero.

While the Front Man emerged as a loyal servant of the game in Season 1, Squid Game Season 3 pushed the character's limits by introducing his moral dilemma after Gi-hun re-entered the games and eventually sacrificed himself for Jun-hee's baby and humanity at large.

The final season saw a shift in the Front Man's character as he watched Gi-hun contemplate killing the remaining players in their sleep with the knife gifted by the games' overseer.

As Lee Byung-hun's character carefully watched him, fans were treated to a flashback of the Front Man making a difficult choice and killing the players, thus winning the games.

However, the Front Man's enigma continued in Squid Game Season 3 as he was both defeated and somewhat impressed that Gi-hun chose a different path than himself, as the actor discussed with The Hollywood Reporter:

''If Gi-hun had killed everyone just as the Front Man did, the Front Man would have felt a sense of victory, because he would have been proven right in his core belief. He could say, “See? You’ve ended up just like me.”

Lee Byung-hun added:

''If Gi-hun doesn’t go through with it...He would also feel a form of self-reproach, or even envy, in seeing Gi-hun protect his values in precisely the way that he failed to do. However...the deepest part of him wanted to see Gi-hun not give in and continue to hold onto hope for the world and for humanity.''

Squid Game Season 3 might not be Lee Byung-hun's last outing as the Front Man

While Squid Game Season 3 was the show's final outing, there are many unanswered questions about the Front Man's character. Ever since Lee Byung-hun appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and teased a Front Man spin-off, fans have been speculating that the actor might return in his own series.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter about the future of his Squid Game character, Byung-hun added:

''...We haven’t really explored these characters [The Front Man and The Recruiter] in their entirety yet...To look at the Front Man with a full character study would be a very fun thing to do...of course I’d be willing to star in it. The character has already been built and designed, and I’m very compelled by him.''

After the Front Man gave Gi-hun's prize money to his daughter in LA and left Jun-hee's baby and her prize money with his half-brother in the final scene of the series, fans saw the lingering remains of goodness in the character.

With these hopeful teases about the Front Man's morality and humanity, fans are surely excited to see him in a spin-off series.

Squid Game Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

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