What if we told you that the twisted violence and betrayal of ‘Squid Game’ may not be confined to your TV screen? That some of the very men who played desperate survivors and ruthless killers on screen have themselves been entangled in disturbing real-life scandals?
Beneath the viral success of Netflix’s Korean juggernaut lies a troubling truth: several prominent male actors from the series have faced serious allegations—from sexual assault and physical violence to drug use and underage prostitution. It’s a reality that forces us to confront an uncomfortable question: how much do we really know about the people behind the characters we root for?
O Yeong-su
The beloved “Player 001” from Season 1—the frail old man with a haunting smile—was charged with sexual misconduct in 2022, five years after allegedly groping a woman in 2017. Though he denied the accusation, the South Korean court found enough grounds to sentence him in 2024 to an eight-month suspended prison term, along with mandatory sexual violence education. The actor, once praised for bringing humanity to the screen’s deadliest game, now carries a very different legacy.
Lee Byung-hun
And what about the man behind the iconic “Front Man,” Lee Byung-hun? In 2009, he was sued by former girlfriend Kwon Mi-yeon, who accused him of deceit, emotional trauma, and a gambling addiction. She demanded damages of 100 million won before mysteriously withdrawing from the case, leaving the matter unresolved. Although he walked away legally unscathed, the cloud of controversy has lingered over his career ever since.
Lee Jung-jae
Even lead actor Lee Jung-jae, who played the lovable underdog Seong Gi-hun, has a past marred by violence. In 1999 and 2000, he faced two separate assault allegations. One incident involved attacking two men at a Seoul bar, while the other was more brutal—he allegedly dragged a woman from her car and kicked her, leaving her injured for weeks. To make matters worse, Lee has allegedly had not one, but two DUI charges—first in 1999, and again in 2002. While his performance won hearts around the globe, his past raises serious questions about accountability in the entertainment industry.
Young-Chang
Then there’s Young-Chang, who played the aggressive Player 100. Back in 2000, he became the first celebrity in South Korea convicted of underage prostitution. He reportedly paid a 16-year-old girl for s*x—twice, in a car—while married. His punishment? Less than a month behind bars. After public backlash, he fled to the U.S. and was blacklisted by major Korean broadcasters. For a country with strict laws around morality and media, his continued inclusion in the industry is shocking.
T.O.P
The former BIGBANG rapper who portrayed the drug-using Thanos (Player 230), seemed to blur the line between character and reality. In 2017, while serving his mandatory military term, he was prosecuted for smoking marijuana with a trainee. The fallout was swift—he lost his position in the police, suffered a drug overdose scare, and was reassigned to public service duty. Though he eventually completed his term, he distanced himself from the K-pop world. Starring in ‘Squid Game’ marked his return to the entertainment industry.
Lee Jin-wook
Known on Squid Game as Player 246, he faced sexual assault allegations in 2016. A 33-year-old friend accused him of rape after inviting him over for drinks. However, the court rejected her claim, citing lack of evidence and noting she had offered him a change of clothes. Jin-wook was cleared, and his accuser was later jailed for making a false allegation—but the case remains a flashpoint in Korea’s ongoing debates over sexual misconduct and justice.
The brilliance of ‘Squid Game’ lies in its unflinching portrayal of desperation and moral collapse. But when the cameras stop rolling, it’s the real-life stories of its cast that begin to raise the most chilling questions. How do we separate the art from the artist—and should we?
One thing’s for sure: in the world of ‘Squid Game,’ you never really know who you’re trusting. Turns out, that might also be true off-screen.
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