The global Squid Game phenomenon had a big night at Netflix＊s TUDUM 2025 event, held at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on May 31. As fans around the world eagerly awaited an update on the record-breaking K-drama, stars Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun took to the stage to deliver exactly that〞and much more.?After briefly introducing themselves, the two leads surprised the crowd by inviting more cast members to join them: Park Sung Hoon, Kang Ae Shim, and, most notably, T.O.P. Their appearance set the stage for the long-awaited reveal of the official trailer for Squid Game Season 3, the final chapter in the harrowing Korean survival saga.
T.O.P＊s appearance on the TUDUM stage marked a major turning point in his career. Greeting fans with a charismatic ※What＊s up, Netflix fans!§ he stood in the spotlight for the first time since leaving the K-pop group BIGBANG in 2017. His exit followed a widely publicised drug scandal that caused him to step back from public life entirely. Squid Game season 2 marked his return to the spotlight.
For years, T.O.P remained out of the entertainment scene, only occasionally surfacing through art-related projects. His casting in Squid Game＊s second season surprised fans and critics alike, sparking backlash across South Korea over his past controversies. However, creator Hwang Dong-hyu was confident about his choices, and backed the idol-actor publicly despite heavy criticism. His character, Thanos, won over the global audience with his hilarious antics and nonchalant nature in an otherwise grim setting. Now, his live appearance at TUDUM 2025 confirmed he's ready to take the big stage.
Park Sung Hoon returns to spotlight after porn parody controversy
Actor Park Sung Hoon also made headlines for attending the event, following a controversy that erupted in December 2024. The actor came under fire after posting a parody image of Squid Game with adult content to his Instagram, just days after the tragic Jeju Air crash that left 179 dead, many of them K-pop fans returning from the Asia Artist Awards in Bangkok.
The timing and nature of the post, shared during a national mourning period, sparked outrage among his longtime followers who had praised him for taking on a transgender character on the Netflix show. Although Park deleted the post and did not directly address it afterward, the backlash was significant. His appearance at TUDUM drew mixed reactions〞some applauded his professionalism, while others questioned the decision to feature him so prominently.
The centrepiece of the night was, without question, the dramatic trailer for Squid Game Season 3. Picking up after the brutal cliffhanger ending of Season 2, the new season sees Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae), also known as Player 456, at his lowest point, reeling from betrayal, loss, and facing moral dilemma. But the game continues, and the stakes are higher than ever.
According to Netflix, in the third and final season, with each deadly round, the surviving players face increasingly impossible choices that test their morality and will to survive. Meanwhile, Front Man (Lee Byung Hun) resumes his chilling duties, hosting a new group of VIPs, while his brother, police officer Jun Ho, continues his dangerous search〞unaware that a traitor walks among his allies.
Squid Game season 3 will be released on June 27, 2025.
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