Actor Lee Byung-hun attributes the global success of 'Squid Game' to its universally relatable story. He expressed his surprise and joy over the success of both 'Squid Game 3' and 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (referred to as 'Kedeheon').
On July 4th, a press conference for the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) 'The Master: Lee Byung-hun' special exhibition was held at the Culture Hall of Hyundai Department Store in Bucheon City.
When asked about the success of 'Squid Game,' Lee Byung-hun shared, "When I first read the script, I thought it was experimental. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk is a genius storyteller. While I expected it to be entertaining, I also thought it could either fail miserably or succeed greatly due to its experimental nature." He continued, "The drama is provocative and entertaining, but it also incorporates current social, political, and economic issues. 'Squid Game' is like a microcosm of today's society. The fact that people worldwide loved and enjoyed it suggests that they share similar experiences and can relate to the social and political issues depicted. The overarching theme of the story is 'humanity.' I believe people around the world felt a profound lack of humanity, which is why they were so captivated by the series."
In addition to 'Squid Game 3,' Lee Byung-hun's Korean and English dubbing work in 'Kedeheon' has also received positive responses globally. Lee expressed his amazement, saying, "'Squid Game 3' topped global charts, and 'Kedeheon' ranked first in the film category. I was taken aback by this success."
Lee Byung-hun recounted, "A few years ago, while I was in the U.S., Sony Pictures contacted me. I had a meeting with them at their headquarters in LA. It was surprising that Sony Pictures was creating a story centered on K-pop, which is globally popular. I was skeptical about how much interest it would garner when released on streaming platforms." He humorously added, "I had previously done animation dubbing in Korea, but this time, I had to work with rough sketches instead of a finished product. I couldn't imagine how the final product would turn out and thought, 'This won't work. They should draw better.'"
Lee continued, "I decided to participate and recorded in a Korean studio. The directors were present. Since I had to dub in English, it took several days, and it was challenging for me. Expressing detailed emotions and nuances was a significant task, and I had multiple takes." He concluded, "The current enthusiastic response is unbelievably joyful and exciting for me. Being in the industry, I am once again reminded of K-pop's incredible global standing."
Lee Byung-hun has been selected as the featured actor for the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). From July 4th to 13th, a special exhibition titled 'The Master: Lee Byung-hun, His Cinematic Moments' will be held on the first floor of Hyundai Department Store's U-Plex in Bucheon.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr