Actress Park Gyu Young has issued an apology for posting a major spoiler during the release of 'Squid Game 2.'
On July 2, Park Gyu Young sat down for an interview with Sports Chosun to discuss the Netflix original series 'Squid Game 3' (written and directed by Hwang Dong Hyuk).
Before the interview began, she addressed the spoiler controversy, saying, “Over the past few months, I think I showed a disappointing side of myself. Many of you may have been let down. But since I have this opportunity to speak to you directly, I want to address the questions I previously avoided out of concern they might harm the project.”
The controversy stemmed from Park Gyu Young posting a photo of Lee Jin Wook in a Pink Guard costume on her personal social media account during the promotion of 'Squid Game 2,' sparking major spoiler backlash. Many fans were disappointed as the image revealed key story details for Season 3. Park Gyu Young said, “I believe I caused a lot of disappointment by unintentionally spoiling something on social media. Although I was asked about it at the press conference, I don’t think I gave a proper response then, so I’d like to take this opportunity to explain.”
She continued, “Right after I uploaded the photo, I immediately contacted the production team, the director, and senior actor Jin Wook to apologize. The director told me, ‘Let’s make sure this kind of mistake never happens again.’ Although Jin Wook sunbae said he was totally fine, I still spent a long time reflecting on my lack of awareness and maturity, and how I failed to take full responsibility for the project.”
Regarding Lee Jin Wook’s response, Park Gyu Young shared, “I reached out to him right away, and he actually comforted me by joking that he appreciated the attention. I felt even more sorry and grateful because of that. During the press conference, too, he tried to comfort me, and I was deeply thankful but also felt I didn’t deserve it.”
Park Gyu Young also apologized to viewers and said, “I just want to speak without excuses. I know many of you had high expectations for Season 3 after Season 2 ended. And I’m sure you began the season already guessing certain developments, like Lee Jin Wook’s survival and character arc. I sincerely apologize for that, without offering any defense. I did blame myself a lot, but more than that, I felt a deep sense of guilt toward the director, who constructed such a thoughtful storyline, and the production team who brought it to life.”
When asked about Netflix’s rumored heavy penalty clauses, she responded, “I can’t go into the specifics of the contract, but rather than penalties, the response was more focused on ensuring that nothing like this happens again. There were pre-filming guidelines about being careful with leaks or exposure, but there was no mention of penalties, and I want to clarify that as carefully as I can.”
'Squid Game 3' follows Gi Hun, who reenters the deadly game with his own motives and suffers the loss of his closest friend, the mysterious return of the Front Man, and the fate of the remaining survivors. The new season premiered on June 27 and immediately set records, earning 60.1 million views (calculated by dividing total watch hours by the runtime) within just three days. It ranked No.1 globally on Netflix’s TOP 10 chart, reflecting its explosive popularity worldwide.
Notably, 'Squid Game 3' became the first Netflix series to top the charts in all 93 countries where Netflix tracks its rankings, including Korea, the U.S., Japan, France, and Brazil, solidifying its status as a historic hit. Additionally, it entered Netflix’s all-time Top 10 for non-English series in 9th place during its debut week, meaning Seasons 1, 2, and 3 are now all ranked in Netflix’s Top 10 most popular non-English shows of all time. Squid Game Season 2 also climbed to 3rd and Season 1 to 6th on the Global TOP 10 for the week, proving the franchise’s enduring global appeal.
SEE ALSO: Park Gyu Young graces the cover of ‘Elle India’, first Korean actor to do so
SHARE
