logo
Frontman may get 'Squid Game' spinoff, says Lee Byung-hun on 'The Tonight Show'

Frontman may get 'Squid Game' spinoff, says Lee Byung-hun on 'The Tonight Show'

Korea Herald19-06-2025
'Squid Game' star hints at future project on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'
Lee Byung-hun, who plays the Frontman in Netflix's global sensation "Squid Game," appeared on the popular talk show "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" this week and hinted at a possible spinoff centered on his enigmatic character.
During the interview, which aired Wednesday, Korean time, on NBC, the veteran South Korean actor discussed his initial reaction to reading the script for "Squid Game." He also shared lighthearted anecdotes regarding his family's surprise when his secret identity as the series' main villain was revealed in season 1.
Reflecting on the show's overwhelming global reception, Lee also admitted he was taken aback by fans' reactions when he traveled to the US to promote the series.
"I've been acting for more than 30 years, and I also participated in some Hollywood blockbuster projects. But 'Squid Game' is a Korean story made by a Korean director with Korean actors and Korean language. I'm so grateful and proud of ('Squid Game''s success)," said Lee, during the interview. The entire interview was conducted in English.
During the interview, Lee also fielded fan questions about the future of the series, teasing light spoilers. Lee confirmed that more characters in the upcoming season will uncover the Frontman's identity — and he didn't rule out the possibility of a standalone project exploring his character's backstory.
In the series, the Frontman, also known as Hwang In-ho, is the mastermind orchestrating the deadly games and a former winner of the Squid Game himself. Much of his backstory remains shrouded in mystery.
"Squid Game" season 3 is set to premiere June 27 on Netflix.
yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Anime 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' storms Korean box office
Anime 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' storms Korean box office

Korea Herald

timean hour ago

  • Korea Herald

Anime 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' storms Korean box office

Japanese franchise hit dominates presales as Korea celebrates liberation The timing couldn't be more awkward — a Japanese anime film is dominating Korean theaters just as the country celebrates its independence from Japanese colonial rule. The latest installment from the hit manga-and-anime franchise "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" has already racked up 411,835 presale tickets, claiming 53.2 percent of all tickets sold as of Friday. At this rate, the film appears on track to sell nearly one million tickets before its Aug. 22 release. With exclusive premium screenings scheduled this weekend, some corners of social media are calling out what they see as tone-deaf timing. While Korea commemorates liberation from Japanese occupation, audiences are flocking to a franchise that critics say has fraught associations. Complaints have ranged from the design of the protagonist's earrings, which allegedly resemble the Rising Sun flag — viewed in Korea as a symbol of Japanese militarism and colonial oppression — to its Taisho-era (1912–1926) setting, which coincides with imperial expansion. Even the titular Demon Slayer corps itself has drawn comparisons to wartime student soldiers with its teenage ranks. Last week, tensions spilled over when the LG Twins, a local baseball team, had to scrap plans to have "Demon Slayer" characters throw the ceremonial first pitch at their Aug. 9 game. The backlash was swift and charged, with many calling the promotion inappropriate so close to Liberation Day on Aug. 15. Still, Korean audiences have proven time and again that they can separate art from politics. Back in 2021, the franchise's first theatrical release, "Mugen Train," pulled in 2.2 million Korean viewers despite being dogged by the same controversies. This was in a country that, just two years earlier, had staged boycotts so intense during a trade dispute that Japanese beer sales plunged 97 percent and car sales 57 percent in a single month. "Infinity Castle" kicks off a trilogy wrapping up the anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge's mega-hit manga, following protagonist Tanjiro and his demon-slaying crew into their ultimate showdown in the villain's fortress. It picks up right after the anime's fourth season, which wrapped in May 2024. The film has already been a sensation in Japan, shattering records since its July 18 opening. It scored the biggest opening day ever with 1.64 billion yen ($11 million), the biggest single day with 2 billion yen, and the best three-day debut with 5.52 billion yen, ultimately grossing 22 billion yen to become the country's sixth highest-grossing film of all time. Meanwhile, "Mugen Train" — the 2020 release based on an earlier narrative arc — still holds the all-time Japanese box office crown with 40.43 billion yen in ticket sales. Its runaway success during the COVID-19 pandemic cemented "Demon Slayer" as a global juggernaut and paved the way for this trilogy's record-breaking run.

Liberation Day on the big screen, with stories of Korean resistance
Liberation Day on the big screen, with stories of Korean resistance

Korea Herald

time5 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Liberation Day on the big screen, with stories of Korean resistance

From AI-restored footage to drama on comfort women, theaters offer window into Korea's independence struggle As South Korea marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule on Aug. 15, the film industry is rolling out a slate of works that grapple with the country's defiant history. This year's lineup spans documentary, drama and experimental formats, each offering a distinct perspective of the independence movement and its enduring legacy. Leading the slate is "La Resistance," a documentary on Gen. Hong Beom-do, a guerrilla commander who led Korean forces to key victories against Japanese troops at the Battle of Bongodong (Fengwudong) and the Battle of Cheongsanri (Qingshanli) in eastern Manchuria, in what is now the Helong region of Jilin province, China. Unveiled Wednesday, the film is a joint production from the Liberation Association and the Hong Beom-do Memorial Foundation. It opened simultaneously in South Korea and Kazakhstan, where Hong died in exile in 1943. Actor Cho Jin-woong, who served as a special envoy during the 2021 repatriation of Hong's remains from Kazakhstan, provides the narration. Long honored as a national hero, issues surrounding Hong became a flash point in 2023 when the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration ordered his bust removed from the Korea Military Academy, citing his membership in the Soviet Communist Party. The move set off a broader debate across ideological lines over how the country should remember its modern history. Also returning to theaters Wednesday is "I Can Speak," a 2017 comedy-drama that turned the testimony of survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II into a box office phenomenon. The film follows Ok-bun (Na Moon-hee), a relentless civil complainant who learns English to testify before the US Congress about her experiences as a wartime sex slave. Na's character draws inspiration from Lee Yong-soo, who traveled from South Korea to Washington in 2007 and 2015 to speak out about her experience as one of the Japanese military's euphemistically labeled "comfort women." The film drew 3 million viewers during its initial run and was a sensation with major award ceremonies in Korea, with Na winning best actress honors at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards and Grand Bell Awards. Multiplex chain CGV and confectionery giant Binggrae have partnered on an experimental short that ventures into new territory. "Unheard Liberation," which premiered Aug. 8, uses artificial intelligence to reconstruct the sounds of Aug. 15, 1945 -- the shouts, cheers and jubilation of the original day of liberation, preserved in photographs but never captured in audio. Running exactly 8 minutes and 15 seconds, the film synthesizes archival materials with real testimony to imagine those lost voices. Screenings through Aug. 15 include a donation component, with 815 won (59 cents) from each ticket supporting descendants of independence fighters through the Korean Red Cross. Rounding out the lineup is "Baeksan: From Uiryong to Balhae," opening Aug. 21. The documentary spotlights Ahn Hee-je, a businessperson who supported Korea's Shanghai-based provisional government during the Japanese occupation through his trading company. The rerelease brings renewed attention to a figure who, despite financing a large share of the independence movement's activities, remains little known to contemporary audiences. Using AI restoration and newly discovered archives from across East Asia, the documentary reveals for the first time the vast scale of Ahn's journey from Siberia to Manchuria.

It's all about music
It's all about music

Korea Herald

time9 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

It's all about music

Great jazz playing in a hole in the wall, traditional folk songs in a beautiful hanok and music on request at an LP bar all make for great getaways Fru, a cozy jazz-playing izakaya in Jongno It's not always the fancy luxury bars that leave the deepest impression. Sometimes, it's the small, hidden spot you stumble on that offers just the right atmosphere and drinks. Fru, a Japanese izakaya about 300 meters from Exit No. 2 of Anguk Station on Subway Line No. 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, has just one four-person table and a bar with nine seats. Because the space is so small — yet very popular — it's strongly recommended to make a reservation at least an hour in advance. The menu is simple but well-curated, featuring Japanese dishes such as sashimi, ramen and rolled omelet that pair perfectly with the drinks. The food may not be extravagant, but it stays true to quality and flavor. Prices are also very reasonable. For drinks, Fru offers a range of sophisticated highballs, including cassis highball, Famous Grouse highball and Fireball cinnamon highball, as well as sweet potato shochu and Korean soju. What truly sets Fru apart, however, is its music. Most of the time, the izakaya plays jazz, but it occasionally spins hits from the 1990s and early 2000s. Guests can even request songs by jotting them down on a small piece of paper and handing it to the staff, though selections are at the bar's discretion. One thing to keep in mind: visits are limited to two hours, as there's a steady flow of customers throughout the night. Right across from the royal palace of Changdeokgung sits a modest hanok -- the Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music. Inside, it's all about the music that once carried the rhythm of life in Korea: folk songs passed down for centuries, from field to field and village to village. These folk songs (minyo in Korean) were not just entertainment. The Korean people have always loved singing -- farmers sang to steady the pace of planting rice, fishermen to pass the time at sea, women to lighten the load of housework. There were songs for festivals and weddings, and songs to soothe grief at funerals. Minyo carries the joys and sorrows of life, as well as all the little moments in between, into our ceremonies, rituals and everyday routines. And each region shaped its own style, giving the folk tradition a colorful, varied soundscape. Here, history is something you can hear. Slip on a set of headphones and you can listen to the work songs of the Hwanghae region (now in North Korea), the playful marketplace chants of Gyeongsang provinces, or the soulful laments of the southern coast. The museum was established to preserve this oral heritage, much of which has faded with rapid industrialization. The hanok itself is part of the charm. Wander through its intimate galleries to discover themed exhibitions, audio stations and videos. On the first floor, curated listening sessions let you hear the voices of Korea's many landscapes under the eaves of traditional architecture. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the museum offers a rare chance to step out of modern Seoul and into a soundscape shaped over generations. One of the best ways to pull the plug on work is to have good food paired with perfect drinks, and music that flows from the speakers like it was made for the moment. Nestled in the streets of Garosu-gil -- a neighborhood in Seoul's Gangnam-gu known for its eclectic cafes and small fashion boutiques -- lies Muse On, a music bar with a great atmosphere, lots of LPs and good drinks and snacks. A 10-minute walk from Exit No. 8 of Sinsa Station on Subway Line No. 3 will take you straight there. Muse On takes music recommendations from visitors, allowing them to sit back and enjoy their selections. From mid-2000s pop like Bobby V.'s "Slow Down" to Ed Sheeran's "Photograph" and indie band Wave to Earth's "Peace Eyes," the playlist spans genres and moods. Drinks are priced between 12,000 won and 20,000 won. A lemon highball costs 12,000 won, while a Moscow Mule is priced at 15,000 won. Weekends tend to get crowded, so time your visit wisely. 32 Dosan-daero 15-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul jaaykim@ hwangdh@ junheee@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store