Lee Jin Wook is set to return to the small screen as a lawyer in his next project, following his gripping performance in Squid Game Season 3.
In the third season of Netflix’s global phenomenon, which premiered on June 27, Lee Jin Wook played contestant No. 246, Park Kyung Seok, a humble amusement park painter who joins the deadly game in a desperate bid to pay for his daughter’s treatment for blood cancer. Though not a central figure in the competition, Park Kyung Seok is thrust into crisis after crisis, lending the season a deeply emotional and suspenseful edge.
Wounded by gunfire and pushed to the brink of death, Park Kyung Seok’s journey is shaped by quiet determination and unwavering paternal love. His bond with Kang No Eul (played by Park Gyu Young), a game staff member who shares his amusement park background, adds emotional depth and urgency to his arc.
In one of the most intense sequences, Park Kyung Seok attempts a daring escape from the island, delivering full-throttle action and raw emotion. Lee Jin Wook’s performance during this scene, set amid a sea-bound gunfight and chase, effectively captures a father’s determination to survive for the sake of his child.
The finale is just as stirring. During a reunion with Kang No Eul, Lee Jin Wook movingly conveys a mix of fatherly love, exhaustion, and cautious hope for the future.
Next up, Lee Jin Wook will take on a very different role in Beyond the Bar, an upcoming JTBC legal drama premiering August 2. He’ll portray Yoon Seok Hoon, a cold, elite attorney, offering viewers a sharp contrast to his emotionally driven character in Squid Game.
Lee Jin Wook began his career in 2002, appearing in singer Jung Jae Hyung’s music video “If It’s a Love Like Me.” Since then, he has built a versatile resume, including standout roles in the hit tvN drama Nine, the films Miss Granny and The Beauty Inside, and the Netflix thriller Sweet Home.
