Squid Game Star Lee Jung-jae Has A Message For Indian Fans: ‘You All Have To Watch...’ | Exclusive

Lee Jung-jae is a name synonymous with South Korean entertainment. A leading man for decades, his face is everywhere from television to fashion shows and advertisements. Yet his rise to global stardom came with Netflix’s Squid Game, a cultural phenomenon that made him a household name far beyond Korea. His performance as Seong Gi-hun earned him the distinction of being the first Korean actor to win an Emmy, and his career trajectory took another historic turn when he became the first Asian to be cast as a Jedi Master in the Star Wars universe.

Now, with over 40 acting credits behind him, Lee is ready to surprise audiences once again. This time, he is venturing into new terrain with his first romantic comedy, Nice to Not Meet You, which will stream

on Prime Video. For an actor celebrated for thrillers and intense period dramas, the choice signals both reinvention and a willingness to break out of the familiar.

Lee Jung-jae On Doing Rom-Com And His Message To Indian Fans

Reflecting on the shift, Lee admitted that stepping into rom-com territory initially felt daunting. “For me in Squid Game through the character Gi-hun, I went through a lot of different changes in the character throughout all three seasons and so I was thinking a lot about what project do I want to do next? And actually, Nice to Not Meet You was something that Ji-yeon here, recommended,” Lee told News18.com during an exclusive roundtable.

“And initially I thought, ‘What? A rom-com? Me?’ but after thinking about it, I felt like it was a really great opportunity to showcase a dramatic transition and I thought that it was just the right genre and just the right character to meet the fans, coming out of Squid Game. And what I would like to say to all of my Indian fans who loved Squid Game so much: you all have to make sure you watch Nice to Not Meet You!”

It’s a heartfelt message to his Indian fanbase, which embraced him after Squid Game. For Lee, the new series is not just about a role, but also about opening a fresh channel of connection with viewers worldwide who discovered him through the global hit.

On Awkward Encounters

Thematically, Nice to Not Meet You revolves around awkward encounters and unexpected chemistry, a departure from the gritty survival struggles of Squid Game. Asked if he has ever experienced uncomfortable first meetings himself, Lee offered a candid reflection. “Sure, I’ve had those awkward encounters–those moments happen. I think I try to act nice no matter how awkward or sometimes how aloof the other person may seem. And I think I try to just remain friendly and nice as possible no matter how the other person reacts because I think when you have this awkward first meeting with someone, it could be because that’s just the kind of personality that person has, or, you never know what kind of day they had.”

Lee continued, “You don’t know if something really bad happened to that person during that day before meeting you. So I try not to judge someone just based on their first impressions alone. I think you have to spend time with each other to get to know the other person really well. So while people say first impressions are important–which they are–but that is not the sole thing that you should judge somebody on. Having said that though, I always try to be friendly and all-smiles when I meet somebody for the first time. I try to be as friendly as possible but I don’t know what other people think of that. And I guess I try to be as friendly as possible no matter how the other person comes off.”

The show itself introduces him as Lim Hyeon-jun, a typecast actor who has spent years stuck in the role of a righteous detective. As he prepares for yet another season of his long-running drama, Hyeon-jun secretly dreams of breaking free from routine and exploring romantic or melodramatic roles. His path crosses with Wi Jeong-sin, played by Lim Ji-yeon, a respected political journalist suddenly demoted to the entertainment desk. Jeong-sin, who admired Hyeon-jun’s work from afar, is surprised to find a very different man than the heroic image he projects onscreen.
For Lee, the storyline resonated on a personal level. Having himself been associated with intense and dramatic roles, Nice to Not Meet You offered the chance to shake off typecasting and show audiences a lighter, more playful side of his artistry.