Yim Si-Wan Open Up About his Interesting character, the Crypto Scammer In The Second Season Of Squid Games.

Yim Si-wan, one of the newest additions to Netflix’s dystopian phenomenon Squid Game, joined the franchise’s second season for one straightforward reason: he’s a devoted fan.

The 36-year-old actor revealed that it was one of the rare instances in his 13-year career where he accepted a role without even reading the script.

“I didn’t even know who Myung-gi was,” Yim shared during an interview on Thursday. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Squid Game. The moment I heard the offer, I said yes before even finishing the conversation.”

Yim portrays the character Myung-gi, also known as Player 333, a former crypto YouTuber whose ill-fated investment in a failed cryptocurrency causes him and his followers to lose millions. After disappearing as a fugitive, Myung-gi eventually enters the Squid Game, where he encounters both his pregnant ex-girlfriend, whom he ghosted, and the victims of his fraud.

The Mentality behind a crypto scammer

Initially, Yim approached the character of Myung-gi as a classic villain. However, director Hwang Dong-hyuk differed, and wanted to emphasise the more humane side of the character.

Yim said that when he was crafting the character in his head, he was contemplating deeply on the human nature. He often wondered if humans are inherently good or bad. Ultimately, he concluded that there are two types of people: those who are inherently bad and those that make poor choices.

And he adds that his character Myung-gi, falls into the latter category. Yim also believes Myung-gi’s suggestion to his ex-girlfriend, Jun-hee (played by Jo Yu-ri), that they start anew after surviving the game, was genuine.

“He’s not inherently malicious,” Yim explained. “He’s just a deeply foolish man who resorts to terrible methods.”

Myung-Gi in light of the rise in crypto scams?

While Myung-gi’s arc in Season 2 is significant, Yim hinted that his role would likely remain smaller in Season 3, which will focus more on Myung-gi and Jun-hee’s relationship. For Yim, however, the size of his role was secondary to the thrill of being part of a show he loves.

“Wearing the green tracksuit and playing the games was a dream come true—like a Harry Potter fan visiting the Wizarding World or a gamer exploring Super Mario World,” he said.

One of the more unsettling aspects of his Squid Game experience was participating in the newly introduced “Mingle” game, where players had to escape into specific rooms in groups while a cheerful children’s song played ominously in the background.

“It blew my mind how the director juxtaposed such contrasting elements,” Yim remarked. “Who thinks of blending a merry-go-round setting with a massacre?”

Reflecting on his character, Yim noted that Myung-gi serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor decisions.

“I do own a small amount of Bitcoin, mainly to understand current trends,” Yim said. “But one thing I’ve learned is this: steer clear of altcoins. Myung-gi’s story is a warning—not a guide.”