‘Squid Game’ actress Lee Joo-sil dies aged 81

2 February, 2025

NME News

The actress Lee Joo-sil, known around the world for her performance in Squid Game, has died at the age of 81.

South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported that she had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in November and passed away at her family home in the city of Uijeongbu on Sunday (February 2).

Lee played Park Mal-soon in the hit Netflix show, the mother of Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), the police detective that joins forces with a fisherman to attempt to locate the island where the games are being held in season two.

Her character is also the stepmother of Hwang In-ho, also known as The Front Man, the main antagonist of the show. In season two, he disguises himself as Player 001 in the games in an effort to thwart Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) plans to bring down the games.

Lee started her career in 1964 and quickly established herself as a prolific actor and voice performer. Her most high-profile roles include appearances in Korean TV series The Uncanny Counter and the acclaimed 2016 zombie horror film Train To Busan.

She had been diagnosed with breast cancer 30 years ago and was given one year to live, but fought the disease for 13 years and eventually overcame it.

The second season of Squid Game has been a huge success for Netflix, with the streamer recently saying it was “the third most-watched season on Netflix ever, garnering an impressive 68million views upon its debut”. It broke records for the most views in its premiere week on the platform and ranked Number One in 92 countries.

NME gave the season a four-star review, writing: “With Squid Game‘s third and final season due next year, it’s hardly a spoiler to say there’s no clear resolution. But the final episode is still breathlessly exciting and chokingly emotional. You’ll be left gasping as Squid Game gets its tentacles around you and squeezes hard.”

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