Jo Yu-ri Responds to Birth Scene Criticism in Squid Game 3: “I Understand the Concerns”
On July 8, during an interview at a café in Seoul, actress Jo Yu-ri addressed the controversy surrounding her childbirth scene in Netflix’s Squid Game Season 3 and discussed how she prepared for the emotionally and physically demanding role.
In the final season of the globally renowned series, Jo Yu-ri plays Park Jun-hee, a heavily pregnant woman who takes part in the brutal survival game. The show, created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, follows returning player Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the mysterious Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), and other survivors as they confront their fates in the deadly game one last time.
Jo Yu-ri admitted that portraying pregnancy and childbirth—experiences she hasn’t had in real life—was a significant challenge. “I was most worried that viewers would find the performance awkward,” she said. “I asked many people for advice—senior actress Kang Ae-shim, my mother, a friend who recently gave birth, and even an obstetrician.”
Surprisingly, Jo Yu-ri said one piece of advice stood out to her. “People told me, ‘Don’t overthink the birth scene. In real life, your mind goes completely blank during labor. If you try to act it out deliberately, it’ll look unnatural.’ That helped me approach it more instinctively.”
She noted she paid special attention to the breastfeeding scene, believing it was key to expressing her character’s growing sense of maternal love. “I wanted to show that Jun-hee wasn’t fully ready to be a mother yet, and I tried to reflect that in how she held the baby.”
Regarding criticism that her character gave birth too quickly during the game—within just a few minutes—Jo Yu-ri responded with maturity and understanding. “I completely understand that kind of feedback,” she said. “It was important to strike a balance between dramatic effect and realism. I discussed that balance a lot with the director, deciding which parts should lean more toward authenticity and which could be heightened for impact.”
Squid Game Season 3 was released globally on June 27, concluding the journey of one of Netflix’s most iconic franchises. Jo Yu-ri’s performance as a vulnerable but resilient participant has been one of the talking points of the season, sparking debate and drawing praise for her emotional depth.
