Lee Byung-hun Reveals Surprising Reason Behind Front Man’s Iconic Whisky Habit in Squid Game
Lee Byung-hun, a prominent star from Squid Game, has shared a surprisingly straightforward reason behind one of his character’s notable traits. As one of South Korea’s biggest stars, Lee has graced both the local scene and Hollywood hits like Terminator Genisys and The Magnificent Seven. His fame soared among Western viewers after his cameo as Hwang In-ho, or the enigmatic Front Man, in Squid Game‘s debut season.
In the latest season, Lee’s character, now going by Oh Young-il, stepped into the fray of the games, only to leave Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) behind for the control room, where he’ll likely continue his whisky-sipping vigil over the next season’s games.
The Front Man’s Duality and Intentions
At the London premiere, Lee kept quiet about the Front Man’s future but hinted, “He thinks that Gi-hun is a very naïve, idealistic guy,” adding, “And he thinks that, at the end of the day, he’ll come around and be just like me, the bad guy,” reports the Mirror US.
Lee also noted, “But, when Gi-hun sticks with his ideals and his own conviction, he kind of envies him to some extent, because he couldn’t be the good guy that he is after going through all that happened in Squid Game when he was a player.”
“So, I think Front Man has that last shred of hope and humanity inside him somewhere. He also has a part of him that wants to root for Gi-hun at the same time he wants to break him.”
“He’s got that duality inside of him and, while he does not really show these ideas in season three, I think he definitely had those feelings and doubts behind his mask, so that’s how I approach his character.”
However, when asked about what’s in store for Front Man in the upcoming installment, Lee stayed tight-lipped, sharing, “That’s the hardest question.”
The Simple Truth Behind the Whisky Habit
“There are lots of scenes where he drinks whisky in season three,” Lee disclosed. “I can tell you that for sure.” Explaining the prominence of whisky, Lee revealed: “I’ve heard there’s product placement there and that’s why he drinks whisky all the time, even when he doesn’t really need to.”
A Taste for Luxury: Front Man’s Whisky of Choice
Aficionados and perceptive fans may have recognized that the Front Man prefers GlenAllachie 21, a lavish Scotch that goes for a cool $500, suggesting he’s got expensive tastes.
Separate from Squid Game promotions, Netflix joined forces with Johnnie Walker to roll out an exclusive run of Black Label Scotch, which aficionados could snag at a far more palatable price tag.
As Front Man takes his place once again in the command center for the highly-anticipated finale, eyes will be peeled to note whether his preference in drinks endures or shifts in this thrilling climax of the series.
Squid Game season 3 premieres Friday, June 27 on Netflix.
