Entertainment
Park Gyu Young Opens Up About Accidentally Spoiling "Squid Game" and Whether She Faced a Penalty
A photo the actress shared last January stirred spoiler speculation.
Published on Jul 4, 2025
Park Gyu Young has broken her silence on the spoiler controversy that surrounded her ahead of the release of Squid Game Season 3. In a recent interview, the actress spoke candidly about the incident, offering an apology to viewers and clarifying reports that she was penalized by Netflix.
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Park Gyu Young Addresses “Squid Game” Season 3 Spoiler Controversy
The issue stemmed from a social media post Gyu Young uploaded after the release of Season 2 in January. In the photo, she appeared in costume as her character Kang No-eul, but in the background, fellow actor Lee Jin Wook—previously presumed dead in the storyline—was also visible in a pink guard uniform. The post, which was quickly deleted, sparked online speculation and was widely interpreted as an unintentional spoiler for the final season.
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PHOTO: Instagram/lavieenbluu.
Speaking to Sports Chosun, Gyu Young said, “I think I disappointed you a lot with the spoiler issue on SNS. I received that question at the production press conference, but I think I wasn’t able to give a proper answer at that time, so I’d like to take this opportunity to explain.”
Following the incident, rumors circulated that Netflix might impose a financial penalty for the breach. However, Gyu Young confirmed that there was no such sanction.
“It’s difficult to talk specifically about the terms of the contract,” she said, “but rather than a penalty, they said, ‘Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again.’” She also emphasized that while there had been prior guidelines regarding on-set confidentiality, no mention of a fine was made.
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PHOTO: Squid Game/Netflix.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Gyu Young expressed deep regret over the post, calling it “a foolish mistake.” She added, “I blamed myself a lot, and I really reflected a lot on the responsibility that an actor should carry within a project.”
In the interview, Gyu Yong shared that she had reached out immediately to the production team, director Hwang Dong Hyuk, and Lee Jin Wook to apologize.
“Director Hwang told me, ‘Let’s not make this mistake again,’ and Jin Wook sunbaenim comforted me and said he was okay,” she recalled. “Even after receiving forgiveness, I spent a long time reflecting on how immature and short-sighted I had been.”
She also issued a direct apology to fans: “You must have had a lot of expectations for Season 3, and I regret that I may have interfered with that experience.”
Park Gyu Young on Playing Kang No-eul in “Squid Game”
Gyu Young joined Squid Game in Season 2 as Kang No-eul, a former North Korean soldier who joins the game as one of its masked enforcers. As the first Pink Guard to be explored in-depth, her character offered a new perspective on the series’ dystopian world.
To portray No-eul, Gyu Young adopted an unusually low vocal tone and trained physically to reflect the character’s internal strength. “We couldn’t depend on facial expressions or body language because No-eul isn’t a character who moves freely,” she said, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily. “Instead, we tried to portray a sense of solidness and unshakable firm strength.”
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PHOTO: Squid Game/Netflix.
She described the role as a turning point in her career. “I’ve come to realize how much more genuine, humble, and responsible I need to be—not just as an actor, but as a person.”
Despite the early controversy, Gyu Young’s portrayal of Kang No-eul has been well received, and the actress is now focused on moving forward—both personally and professionally.
“I don’t usually set specific goals like, ‘Next year, I want to do this,’” she said. “But I do know now that I want to become not only a wiser actor, but also a better person.”
Squid Game Season 3 is streaming on Netflix.
Kat is Preview's Lifestyle Editor, explorer, and occasional rhymer. When not globe-trotting, she's over her computer, writing her next big novel.