Surprisingly, despite Squid Game’s phenomenal worldwide success, well-known K-drama actor Son Suk-Ku has declined two offers to star in the Netflix series. The part of Cho Sang-woo (Player 218), which was actually played by Park Hae-soo, was first offered to him for Season 1. After giving it some deliberation, Suk-Ku and his agency, SBD, decided to decline; they enjoyed the storyline but believed that the show’s worldwide success was uncertain.
He was again given a role in Season 2, but because of the time and scheduling issues, he couldn’t take up the role. He had already committed to Disney+’s Casino at that time and feared he would get limited screen time as Im Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul were already cast.
A close friend of Suk-Ku confirmed that he had made his decision after he got the script, which told that the major roles were all set; that was why he was worried about his role and the storyline. Suk-Ku nevertheless valued the series for its novel take on the death game genre, emphasising cooperation over blatant brutality.
While Squid Game continues to soar in popularity, with its second season dominating Netflix’s viewership charts, the actor’s role in the show remains unfulfilled. Despite his decision to turn down the offers, Son Suk-Ku’s star power continues to rise with his ongoing projects, including his role in Disney+’s Casino. The immense success of Squid Game, however, has left fans wondering what might have been if he had joined the cast. With the third and final season of the show set to release later this year, it remains to be seen how the series will continue to evolve without Suk-Ku’s presence in its cast.
