Roh Jae-won talks ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 and what he’d do with 45.6 billion won

Actor Roh Jae-won / Courtesy of Netflix

Actor Roh Jae-won, who made a strong impression as Nam-gyu in “Squid Game” Season 3, is drawing attention for his breakout performance, intense character work and his answer to a central question of the show: What would he do with the prize money?

During a recent interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Roh spoke about his experience filming the Netflix megahit’s final season. In Season 3, Roh plays Nam-gyu, a former club promoter battling addiction.

To portray the emotionally unstable Nam-gyu, Roh immersed himself using unusual methods.

“I listened to bizarre, beat-heavy music alone in a dark studio and danced to it. I recorded self-tapes imagining I was a YouTuber talking to subscribers. I even imagined a wasp crawling on my body to trigger an unsettling sensation,” he said. “Those kinds of thoughts helped me connect with the character.”

Nam-gyu’s erratic behavior, especially the viral scene where he sings the K-pop song “Love Scenario,” earned unexpected fan attention. “I didn’t expect that many parodies,” Roh said. “That scene was surprisingly tough. I put a lot of thought into how to make it feel real.”

Roh’s meticulous approach also showed in how he deliberately avoided looking at the set before filming.

“The set was really amazing. It made me feel like I was actually part of ‘Squid Game,’ and I wanted to take pictures and show them off,” he said. “But I wanted to see it through the eyes of a contestant to feel that unfamiliarity. So I tried not to look at the set beforehand and only took it in once I was in front of the camera. The level of detail was incredible.”

Roh Jae-won as Nam-gyu in "Squid Game" Season 3 / Courtesy of Netflix

Exploring the psychology of survival

Roh gave thoughtful insights into Nam-gyu’s motivations. His character looked up to the figure known as Thanos (played by T.O.P) and resented being dismissed by Min-su (played by Lee David). “Nam-gyu longed to be acknowledged. He hated being ignored. He probably saw a kindred spirit in Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan), someone he could finally call a partner.”

Working alongside actors like T.O.P inspired him. “You could feel how much he loved the role of Thanos. It pushed me to go further,” Roh said. “He’s someone you can trust on set. But we were so close off camera that it was hard to shift into our intense scenes. At some point, we silently agreed not to talk during key moments, and then go back to joking around after the shoot.”

What would Roh do with the prize money?

In the show, players risk their lives for a grand prize of 45.6 billion won ($33 million). Roh doesn’t think Nam-gyu was motivated by money.

“It was about feeling special, the thrill of being number one,” he said. “But if he had won, I think he would’ve spiraled deeper into addiction.”

As for himself, Roh said he’d start by buying a house and a car — “basic stuff.” But he added, “After seeing so many people die, I don’t think I could live a good life with that money.”

For Roh, filming “Squid Game” Season 3 was a formative moment in his career. “This project captured me in a raw, unpolished state,” he said. “Since then, I’ve grown and changed a lot. There are moments in this season that even my future self will admire.”

He added, “I want to keep doing roles that my future self will be proud of.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.