Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun and Legendary Actress Lee Young-ae Spotted Together

The stars of Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area (JSA) came together for the first time in 25 years, celebrating the legacy of a film that revolutionized Korean cinema. What began as a desperate project for its director and cast ultimately became a masterpiece etched into film history.

On February 4, at the CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, the CJ ENM Visionary screening event commemorated its 30th anniversary by featuring JSA with award-winning director Park Chan-wook, Oscar-winning actor Song Kang-ho, Squid Game superstar Lee Byung-hun, Lady Vengeance's Lee Young-ae, top Korean actor Kim Tae-woo, and CJ ENM’s head of film, Ko Kyung-bum, in attendance. Shin Ha-kyun, the youngest of the lead actors, was absent due to personal reasons. Once in their 20s and 30s, the cast has since entered their 50s, while Park himself, who was then in his late 30s, is now in his 60s.

Since 2020, CJ ENM has been recognizing individuals who present bold visions across entertainment, including film, television, music, and variety shows, through its Visionary program. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the company selected 20 groundbreaking films that changed the course of Korean cinema, with Joint Security Area (JSA) leading the lineup. Praised for ushering in the “Korean Cinema Renaissance,” the film is regarded as the first to achieve both critical acclaim and box-office success. Other selections include Snowpiercer, Veteran, Parasite, and Extreme Job.

This event marked the first official reunion of the core cast since the movie’s release 25 years ago. Park Chan-wook shared, “Receiving awards as an individual creator is always an honor, but being recognized as a team through this film and meeting the actors again means even more. I’m grateful to CJ ENM for creating this opportunity to reunite with not only the actors but also the crew.”

Lead actor Song Kang-ho reflected on his initial skepticism. “The script was meticulously crafted, unlike anything we’d seen before in Korean cinema. I found myself wondering, ‘Is it even possible for a Korean film to pull this off?’ I also knew Park’s previous two films had underperformed, so I doubted JSA would be a success.” He recalled the director’s commanding presence at their first meeting: “Park appeared in a trench coat, turning the corner with such grace and dignity. I was instantly convinced he was someone I could trust.”

For Lee Byung-hun, the film remains a defining moment. He surprised the audience by revealing that he watched JSA in theaters 40 times. “It was the first time I experienced success, so I kept sneaking into theaters to observe how audiences reacted. It’s a memory I treasure,” he said. Looking back on his performance, he added, “Although I’ve matured as an actor, I’m not sure I could recreate that 20-something energy today. At the time, I was far from perfect, but I suppose I was the right fit.”

Park candidly acknowledged the pressure he faced: “I was at a do-or-die moment. My first two films had flopped, and if this third one failed, it could’ve been my last. But I had the full support of the production team and incredible actors—it felt like a miracle.”

With a production budget of around 3 billion KRW (approximately $2.1 million), JSA captivated 5.8 million viewers nationwide, becoming a box-office sensation. Often hailed as the blueprint for modern Korean blockbusters, the film also gained international recognition. Notably, Quentin Tarantino included it among the two greatest Korean films of the last 20 years.

Lee Young-ae, the film’s sole female lead, confessed to feeling nervous before the reunion. “When we filmed, I was the only woman among a cast of men, so I often felt isolated. But sitting down and reminiscing over a meal today, I couldn’t help but think, ‘I should’ve joined more reunions.’” Kim Tae-woo, who described the movie as “a stroke of fate,” recalled his surprise when he first read the script: “I knew right away this film would change everything.”

Park concluded by reflecting on the film’s lasting relevance. “Whenever I’m abroad, people always ask, ‘Did you really film this at Panmunjom?’ My answer is always the same: ‘If we had been allowed to shoot there, this movie wouldn’t have been necessary in the first place.’ The fact that audiences today still resonate with the film shows the sadness of the times we live in. I hope that by the time we mark the 50th anniversary, we’ll be talking about it like it’s a distant memory, in a world where South-North relations have evolved for the better.”