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| ▲ Actor Lee Byung-hun speaks during a press conference for "The Master: Lee Byung-hun," a special section dedicated to his 30-year filmography at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on July 4, 2025. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Actor Lee Byung-hun answers questions at a press conference for "The Master: Lee Byung-hun," a special section dedicated to his 30-year filmography at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on July 4, 2025. (Yonhap) |
BIFAN-actor
Lee Byung-hun discusses 'Squid Game,' his 30-year career at BIFAN
BUCHEON, South Korea, July 4 (Yonhap) -- "Squid Game" star Lee Byung-hun said Friday that Netflix's Korean original series serves as "a microcosm" of today's world, tackling its social, political and economic issues.
Speaking at a press conference for the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Lee said its global popularity comes from a powerful message and universal theme.
"People around the world seem to deeply resonate with its message about the loss of humanity," the veteran actor said.
Lee also praised the series' director Hwang Dong-hyuk as "a genius storyteller," but confessed that his initial reaction to the script was mixed.
"The story was incredibly fun, but it felt so experimental that I thought it would either be a massive hit or a complete flop," he recalled.
The press conference, held 19 kilometers west of Seoul, marked the opening of a special BIFAN section highlighting Lee's 30-year filmography.
The annual festival, which celebrates genre films from around the world, kicked off its 10-day run the previous day, and will screen 217 films from 41 countries.
He called the BIFAN retrospective honoring his life's work a "surreal" experience, admitting he was shocked by the sheer volume of his filmography while selecting films for the event.
"It hasn't really sunk in," he said, noting a "disconnect" when junior actors address him with the highly respectful title of "seonsaengnim," or a master.
The special program features 10 of Lee's most notable films, including "Joint Security Area" (2000), "Inside Man" (2015) and "The Match" (2025).
"I feel incredibly honored to have this special program," the actor said. "I'd love to have more chances like this."
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