Speaking during an interview on June 30th in Seoul, _ Play of squid 3_ The director Hwang Dong-Hyuk recognized the disappointment of fans for time on the limited screen of the character. Introduced in season 2 and present again in the last season, the competitor 44 as “Dragon Palace Shaman”, played by Chae Gook-Hee, has distinguished himself for his cryptic behavior and mysterious aura. Despite the expectations of a wider role, its presence has remained minimal in season 3.
Hwang explained the creative intent behind the character: “I wanted to create a bizarre and upset character like Mi-Nyeo of season 1. Shamans are symbolic in Korea, not only in tradition but also in politics.”
This scene of season 3 of Squid Game is pure gold 😂 a woman pretends to be a shaman and deceives players by claiming to know the road to the escape door 😂😂😂
– Oba (only great agenda) (@Obaofvibes) June 27, 2025
He added that the role was rooted in cultural relevance, underlining references in real life to shamanism, including his appearance in recent pop culture such as K-pop hunters. “The former presidential office also had shamanic ties. It is still part of our national conscience.”
By sharing a personal story, Hwang revealed that once his grandmother had been deceived by a shaman, who inspired the imaginary portrait. “When the character becomes possessed, he begins to predict the destinies of others. I wanted to instill a disturbing thrill through those scenes”, he said.
While the role of Dragon Palace’s shaman could have been small, he brought a symbolic weight, which serves as a cultural mirror and narrative Jolly in a season full of themes of fate, faith and social chaos.
