The “original” acting idols and “emerging” acting idols met as former lovers with a plot full of twists and turns. This is the story of Im Si-wan and Jo Yu-ri.
The two actors starred together as lovers in “Squid Game 2,” released Dec. 26. Im Si-wan played Lee Myung-gi, a YouTuber who runs a coin-related YouTube channel, while Jo Yu-ri played Kim Jun-hee, who, after trusting Myung-gi’s bad investment advice and having lost a large sum of money, he ends up participating in the deadly game.
Jo Yu-ri’s character, despite being pregnant with Im Si-wan’s child, survived the intense third round of the game, showing her strong will.
This unique pairing has attracted the attention of global viewers. Im Si-wan and Jo Yu-ri’s portrayal of former lovers with a complex narrative in “Squid Game 2” has sparked curiosity about their past together, bringing attention to their history as K-Pop idols.
A post appeared on Twitter that said: “Many people won’t know that Squid Game’s Crypto Guy was a K-Pop idol,” along with a video from Im Si-wan’s days as a member of ZE:A.
The post received comments like, “There’s no way this cute boy could be number 333,” “No wonder his face looks familiar,” “I guess I won’t get to see his cute side anymore,” “ZE:A? I know that group,” AND “I want to watch Squid Game 2 again.”
During his days in ZE:A, Im Si-wan stood out for his delicate beauty, serving as the group’s image. The stark contrast between his character in “Squid Game 2,” Lee Myung-gi, who has a pessimistic and selfish personality, left viewers around the world stunned.
Jo Yu-ri also surprised fans. A video of her singing Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” was shared online, with the comment: “The pregnant woman from Squid Game can sing. My God.”
K-pop fans were quick to point out that Jo Yu-ri is a former member of IZ*ONE, formed through audition show Produce 48, and is now an active solo artist.
Meanwhile, “Squid Game 2” follows the fierce rivalry between Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who returns to seek revenge and participate in the game again, and Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who welcomes him. The series has topped Netflix’s global charts, reaching #1 in 93 countries, including the US, France, Mexico, the UK, Hong Kong and Turkey, and is poised to create a global phenomenon.
“Squid Game 3” is scheduled for release in 2025.
