Actor Lee Jung-jae revealed that he initially perceived his acting becoming a meme (a term referring to the trend of cultural elements spreading and being imitated or adapted on the internet, social media, etc.) as a form of mockery.
During a post-finale interview for Netflix's series 'Squid Game' Season 3 held in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd, Lee Jung-jae mentioned that his line "Now hold!" from Season 2 becoming a meme wasn't his first experience with this phenomenon. He chuckled, recalling, "It seems to have started not with 'Squid Game' but from 'New World' with lines like 'Brother, don't you think you went too far with your joke?,' to 'Do I have the face to become king?' ('The Face Reader'), and 'There are two bullets' ('Assassination'), all of which turned into memes."
He added, "At first, I thought, 'What did I do wrong?' and 'This is a disaster.' I believed my acting had become a subject of ridicule. But as time passed, I realized, 'That's not it,' 'Times have changed.' I came to see these instances as one way people express their enjoyment of the work, and I gradually started to hope for it."
Lee Jung-jae's acting is distinctively unique. His particular vocal delivery and acting style have inspired impersonations by comedians and internet memes, which have been widely embraced by younger audiences. This has significantly contributed to the popularity and buzz around his projects.
In the global phenomenon 'Squid Game,' the line "Now hold!" gave rise to yet another meme.
Lee Jung-jae has concluded the 'Squid Game' series with Season 3, spanning over the last five years. As the unexpected choices of the character Seong Gi-hun spark debate among viewers, 'Squid Game' Season 3 continues its reign as the number one Netflix global show.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
