Yim Siwan Reflects on Playing ‘Squid Game 3’ Villain

By Jiyoun, Moon

Jul 06, 2025

Yim Siwan Reflects on Playing ‘Squid Game 3’ Villain
photo courtesy of Netflix



Actor Yim Siwan (37) expressed his thoughts on the villain.

Netflix's original series 'Squid Game 3' (directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk), which only lost its best friend in a re-entry game with its own purpose 'Gi-hoon', which hid itself in the game 'Frontman', and the story of the last fate of the participants who survived the cruel game 'Squid Game' Season 3 has recorded 60,100,000 viewers (viewing time divided by the total running time of the work) in the first week of its release, topping the global top 10 list in just three days, realizing the hot popularity at home and abroad.

Season 3 of 'Squid Game' has recorded 60,100,000 views in just three days since its release on June 27, topping all 93 countries, including the U.S., Japan, France, and Brazil, as well as South Korea. It was Netflix's first film to top all countries in its first week of release, proving its all-time box office success.




In addition, in the first week of its release, it ranked 9th in Netflix's all-time series (non-English), and season 1, 2 and 3 all ranked in the top 10 in Netflix's all-time most popular series (non-English). In addition, season 2 ranked third in the series (non-English) and season 1 ranked sixth in the global TOP 10, which compiled the number of viewers over the past week, proving that it is a work that receives great attention from fans around the world.

It was the masterpiece played by Lim Si-wan who played the biggest role in the popularity of 'Squid Game 3'. Sim Ji-wan played a masterpiece that showed a mean human specimen, and even achieved the last emotional outburst, attracting viewers' curses and applause at the same time. Lim Si-wan said, "I'm in a lot of pressure."Of course, it is, but I think it is a compliment because I have heard well that you should think of it as a blessing to be criticized as an actor. I'm going to spend the time of being criticized in a good mood" expressed his feelings.

Yim Siwan Reflects on Playing ‘Squid Game 3’ Villain
photo courtesy of Netflix
In the final confrontation, Sim Ji-wan played a character that would be difficult for ordinary people to understand, such as a heartless father gambling on a child for his survival, and became the 'biggest villain'. However, Lim Si-wan confessed that he thought Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun) and Nam Kyu (Roh Jae-won) were much more evil than the masterpieces he played. Shim Ji-wan "I thought that the existence of absolute evil was definitely "that way" while filming. However, while filming, I received the director's direction, and there was a point where I was confused because I didn't think I was a villain, and in the end, I did my best to see what kind of direction and intention the director had. Then, looking at the result, I thought that it might not be the most evil character, villain, but I would be disappointed.




Even for Im Si-wan, the actions of Myung-ki in the final chapter were shocking itself. Sim Ji-wan "The god was shocking. I saw it in advance in the script, it was a god coming up to the climax anyway, a god who was running to that god, but I didn't want to face it personally. While preparing for such a scene, I had to prepare something emotional anyway, but the process of preparing was also emotions that I didn't want to face." Most of the viewers, as well as director Hwang Dong-hyuk, thought Myung-ki in the play could have thrown a child for his own survival, but Lim Si-wan, who played it, had a different idea. Shim Ji-wan "I thought I wouldn't actually be able to do anything with the child. It was an act I didn't mean, but I thought it was a petty trick in that situation. I thought it might be an act aimed at threatening how to overcome this in the face of an emergency", he explained.

Yim Siwan Reflects on Playing ‘Squid Game 3’ Villain
photo courtesy of Netflix
Even Myung-ki lost public sentiment while causing the death of Hyun-joo (Park Sung-hoon), who was considered the most righteous person in the play. Lim Si-wan also confessed honestly that his 'Jeong' about Ming-ki fell in the scene of killing Hyun-joo. Shim Ji-wan "Even if I killed him, I killed a righteous person like Hyun-ju, so I left my mind about a person named Myung-ki." Rather, the viewers said they felt betrayed in the final game, so I thought they were much more patient and generous than me."

Despite the rise in popularity around the world, it is Lim Si-wan, who is also receiving global swear words through Instagram. Shim Ji-wan "Many people give me messages and see the number of followers growing, but this time, the purpose seems to be a little different. I got the feeling that 'those people are following me to watch season 3 and swear at me. I know you swear in Korean or English in the language you know, but I still feel at ease not knowing other languages. There will be some stories, but I don't feel like translating them."




From 'Emergency Declaration' to 'Squid Game', Im Si-wan is in full bloom as a villain, but the idea of playing a villain in the future has completely disappeared. Shim Ji-wan "The idea of wanting to stop playing villains has not changed, but has become more established. Now, if I can, I want to appeal not as a villain, but as a soft or good person"I think this work makes me crave more romance dramas." To be honest, he said, raising expectations for new works to be shown in the future.





lunamoon@sportschosun.com