Netflix Jo Yu-ri "I Didn't Know the Ending Until the End"

Jo Yu-ri, who plays the role of the heavily pregnant Jun-hee in the Netflix series <Squid Game> Season 3, revealed that she did not know the fate of the baby during filming.

At a press conference held on the 8th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jo Yu-ri said, "As a mother, I was curious about what would happen to the baby, but I didn't know the ending until the end," adding, "I watched Season 3 with my heart racing, and only then did I properly learn (the fate of the baby)."

In Season 3, Jun-hee gives birth to a baby during the game, and after Jun-hee's death, the baby inherits participant number 222 and participates in the game. Even Jo Yu-ri, who portrayed the baby's narrative, which plays a key role in the ending, only learned about it later.

Regarding the scene where the baby's father, Myung-ki (played by Im Si-wan), uses the baby as a tool for threats, Jo Yu-ri said, "When I first saw that scene, I was at a loss for words to describe my shock," and reflected on her feelings as a mother, saying, "I wondered how someone could act so hatefully."

Having no real childbirth experience, Jo Yu-ri challenged herself to act out pregnancy and childbirth in this work. She explained, "I heard from a friend that when you actually give birth, you don't think about anything and it's a state of ecstasy," and added, "Based on that, I acted, and when senior Kang Ae-sim (playing Geum-ja) led the performance, I focused on that and filmed diligently."

In the story, Jun-hee shows more reliance on Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) than on the baby's father, Myung-ki. Jo Yu-ri analyzed the character's emotional line, saying, "At first, Myung-ki might have hoped to hold her again, but after he killed Hyun-joo (played by Park Sung-hoon), there would have been nothing left but disgust, so I think she relied on Gi-hun because she felt he still had humanity."

In the end, Jun-hee entrusts the baby to Gi-hun and makes the choice to sacrifice herself in the jump rope game for their safety. Jo Yu-ri explained the background of Jun-hee's extreme choice, saying, "She thought Gi-hun might die trying to help her, so she made a realistic decision to increase the chances of saving the baby."

Jo Yu-ri debuted as a singer in the girl group IZ*ONE through the Mnet audition program <Produce 48> in 2018, becoming known to the public as a singer. However, she revealed that her true dream was acting.

Jo Yu-ri said, "I was in the drama club in high school and wanted to major in theater and film in college," adding, "After debuting as a singer, I felt a thirst for acting since I couldn't do it, and while doing solo activities, my desire to act grew as I went to dozens of auditions."

After going through constant challenges and failures, a turning point came. She made a strong impression in the role of Jun-hee after being cast in the Netflix original series <Squid Game>.

Following her acting activities, Jo Yu-ri will also resume her activities as a singer. She is set to release her third mini-album on the 14th and meet with fans.

"It was so rewarding to see foreign fans commenting, 'Was she also a singer? Her voice is good,'" Jo Yu-ri expressed her feelings. She added, "I had a long hiatus as a singer, and I am grateful to the fans who waited for two years, and I participated in every song with a heart to repay them."