Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun is taking on the role of legendary Go player Cho Hun-hyun in the upcoming film, The Match.
Releasing on 26 March, The Match follows Cho (played by Lee Byung-hun), who, after a crushing defeat to his protégé, embarks on a relentless journey to reclaim his dominance in the world of Go.
Set in the 1990s, when Go was regarded as the ultimate intellectual sport, The Match portrays Cho as a global sports icon, drawing comparisons to modern-day stars like Kim Yuna, Park Ji-sung, and Son Heung-min.
Given the film’s biographical nature, the casting process was critical to capturing Cho’s essence. Director Kim Hyung-ju shared, “From the moment I wrote the first page of the script, I knew Lee Byung-hun was the perfect fit. His ability to convey the confidence of a master, the devastation of defeat and the determination to rise again is unmatched. Watching him on set, fully immersed in the character down to the trembling of his eyes over the Go board, reaffirmed that he was the only choice.”
As promotional materials such as posters and trailers have been released, audiences have been quick to notice Lee’s striking resemblance to a young Cho. Many online reactions have compared Lee’s transformation to a seamless overlay of the real-life Go master.
Read more: Lee Byung-hun: From Hollywood Action Hero to Squid Game’s Global Star
Initially, Lee was hesitant to take on the role. “Before reading the script, I didn’t know much about Go, so I wasn’t particularly drawn to the story,” he admitted. However, after reading the script, his perspective changed. “Even audiences unfamiliar with Go will find it immersive,” he explained, which led to his decision to take on the challenging role.
To prepare for his portrayal, Lee meticulously studied materials provided by the production team and even met with Cho in person. “I worked hard to make the matches believable, even for those who don’t understand the rules. My focus was on conveying the psychological tension through subtle, detailed expressions,” Lee said. “I paid special attention to making sure that even viewers who don’t know Go can still grasp the intensity of the game through emotion.”
