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| ▲ Series creator, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk speaks during a press conference for the third and final season of "Squid Game" in Seoul on June 9, 2025. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The global Netflix sensation "Squid Game" will unveil its final chapter with the release of Season 3 on Friday, concluding a narrative that began in 2021 and spanned four years.
Season 3 will consist of six episodes, making it shorter than its predecessors—Season 1 had nine episodes, and Season 2 had seven. Given that Seasons 2 and 3 together form a continuous narrative, the final season is expected to raise the stakes and deliver answers to the questions and conflicts that have built up throughout the series.
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| ▲ A promotional poster for "Squid Game" Season 3, provided by Netflix (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
All eyes are on the showdown between Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, and the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun. In Season 2, the Front Man stayed close to Gi-hun under the guise of being another participant, subtly destabilizing the rebellion. Season 3 will see them as full-fledged adversaries in direct confrontation.
With promotional posters explicitly labeling their confrontation as the "final battle," Season 3 promises to resolve the ideological clash between Gi-hun, who still believes in people, and the Front Man, who has lost all hope in humanity. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk previously described their duel as "a conflict of values concerning faith in humanity."
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| ▲ A promotional poster for "Squid Game" Season 3, provided by Netflix (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Another key point of interest is the anticipated reunion between police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) and the Front Man, who is revealed to be his brother. Throughout Season 2, Jun-ho scours the island where the game is held, deploying drones and mercenaries in his relentless search. Despite his efforts, he fails to find any leads, prompting speculation that his storyline might be a "MacGuffin"—a narrative device that seems significant but ultimately has little impact on the plot.
Additional subplots also await resolution, such as the fate of Byung-jeong No-eul, played by Park Gyu-young, and Park Kyung-seok, played by Lee Jin-wook, who survived despite a failed rebellion, and whether a heavily pregnant Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri) will give birth in the middle of the arena—and what destiny awaits her child.
New games featured in Season 3 are already generating intrigue. The trailer shows a massive robot named "Young-hee" swinging a giant jump rope from atop a tall bridge as players are hurled through the air after getting caught. Another scene depicts participants navigating a labyrinthine maze in a game of hide-and-seek.
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| ▲ A promotional poster for "Squid Game" Season 3, provided by Netflix (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Director Hwang hinted that there are additional secret games not revealed in the trailer. Alongside Young-hee—who infamously gunned down players during the "Red Light, Green Light" game in Season 1—a new robot named "Chul-soo" will appear. Its role, however, remains shrouded in mystery.
Foreign media outlets have expressed keen anticipation for the series' conclusion. The New York Times called the show “a TV series that launched a thousand memes,” adding that the Korean dystopian thriller has "seeped into the zeitgeist with surgical precision." The Guardian noted, “The message that violence and capitalism endanger humanity has remained consistent across all three seasons,” and predicted that Season 3 will be “heavily focused on themes of revenge and retribution.”
Reflecting the show’s global popularity, Netflix is holding various events both in South Korea and abroad to coincide with the release of Season 3. On June 9, 456 fans participated in a showcase event titled "Squid Game Memorial" alongside cast members in Seoul. Premieres were also held in London on June 12 and in New York City on June 18, where the first episode of Season 3 was screened.
In addition, actor Lee Byung-hun appeared on the American late-night program "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," while Park Gyu-young was featured on the BBC's "The One Show," underscoring the series’ international appeal.
A large-scale fan event and parade will take place on June 28 in central Seoul at Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Square, offering fans the chance to meet the cast and director in person.
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