Jo Yu-ri Discusses Squid Game Season 3 and Her Acting Journey

In a recent interview held at a café in Seoul's Sogyeok-dong, Jo Yu-ri, the lead actress of Netflix's Squid Game Season 3, expressed her gratitude for the audience's reactions despite mixed reviews about her performance. The series, which continues the gripping narrative of Gi-hun, the Frontman, and the remaining contestants, has captivated global audiences since its debut in September 2021, breaking viewership records.

Squid Game Season 3, which premiered on July 5, 2025, achieved an impressive 60.1 million views within just three days, topping Netflix's charts in 93 countries, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, France, and Brazil. This makes it the first Netflix series to reach number one in every country during its opening week.

Jo Yu-ri, a former member of the girl group IZ*ONE, plays the character Jun-hee, who participates in the deadly games after losing a significant amount of money due to a bad investment tip from her ex-boyfriend, played by Im Si-wan. This season, Jun-hee gives birth to a daughter during the games, adding a dramatic twist to her storyline.

Reflecting on her experience, Jo stated, "I was really happy during the filming, and it’s hard to believe it’s over. I thought I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Jun-hee, but now I feel prepared after completing Season 3." She expressed her appreciation for the audience's support, noting that it motivates her to grow as an actress.

At just 24 years old, Jo faced the challenge of portraying a pregnant woman, which she described as a valuable experience. She shared, "I felt it was a good challenge as I stepped into my acting career. I was worried about not performing well due to my lack of experience, but I didn’t find it too difficult overall." Jo received guidance from her senior co-star, Kang Ae-sim, and even watched childbirth vlogs to prepare for her role.

Despite the support she received, Jo acknowledged that embodying the character of a mother was not easy. "I had never felt maternal love before, and through playing Jun-hee, I realized how profound a mother's love can be. It made me understand what true love is," she said.

However, some critics felt that Jo's acting skills were not sufficient to fully convey Jun-hee's dramatic storyline. Addressing the criticism, she remarked, "I felt that Jun-hee's emotions were limited, making it hard to express joy or other visible feelings. I plan to take feedback into account for my future roles."

Jo also shared her thoughts on her character's tumultuous relationship with Im Si-wan's character, stating, "A guy like Myung-ki is the worst. Even though he ghosted Jun-hee, there was still some affection left. But after his actions during the game, trust was broken, leading her to choose Gi-hun instead."

Interestingly, Jo did not receive the scripts for the latter part of the series until the day of the release, which left her shocked by the plot twists. "I was really surprised. I had no idea about the storyline until I watched the broadcast," she recalled.

In conjunction with the release of Squid Game Season 3, Jo Yu-ri also made her return to music with her mini-album, aiming to connect with fans after a two-year hiatus. She is set to take on a new role in the upcoming drama Variety, expressing her desire to continue challenging herself and showcasing her growth as an actress.