Squid Gameseason 2 was another extremely popular installment of theK-drama TV series. While the sophomore season brought a fresh set of players, one of the few returning stars wasLee Byung-hun, who portrayed the main antagonist, the Front Man. While he was only seen behind the scenes of the games, the character became more involved in season 2 as a player himself. As a result, Lee’s performance earned a lot of acclaim, particularly for adding some complexity to the game overseer. Additionally, K-content has been growing as an industry, making a mark on streamers like Netflix and Disney+.
Squid Gameseason 3is set to wrap up the series on June 27, which leaves many viewers impatiently waiting. In the meantime,Netflix has been continuing to lean in on a lot of its Korean-language content.The streamer announced earlier this year that it would release 29 K-dramas and Korean-language movies in 2025, and many of them have been very successful. There is one biopic movie that has dropped on Netflix, and it stars the Front Man himself.
The Match (2025) Is Now Available Internationally On Netflix
It’s Lee Byung-hun’s First Project Since Squid Game Season 2 Dropped
The Matchis currently available to watch internationally on Netflix. It featuresFront Man actor Leein one of the lead roles. Lee portrays Cho Hun-hyun, who is a legendary player of the game Go (baduk). Cho interacts with his protégé and future rival, Lee Chang-ho. Chang-ho is played by actor Yoo Ah-in, andThe Matchfeatures Kim Kang-hoon, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jeong-Hee, Jung suk-yong, and Ko Chang-seok. It is directed by Hyeong-ju Kim.
The movie was initially screened at the Busan International Film Festival back in 2021 and was then scheduled for release on Netflix in 2023.
The MatchisLee’s first project since the release ofSquid Gameseason 2, marking the first opportunity for audiences to get a look at the Front Man actor in a new role. The film had a theatrical release in South Korea back in March, which came after a couple of years of release delays. The movie was initially screened at the Busan International Film Festival back in 2021 and was then scheduled for release on Netflix in 2023. However, Yoo received drug charges for testing positive for propofol and marijuana, an alleged scandal that resulted in a release delay.
Why You Should Check Out The Match (2025)
It’s Already Been Nominated For Two Awards
While the film may not have received a theatrical release in the United States,The Matchended up doing quite well in Korea. The movie made $14.4 million in its home country, staying at the no. 1 spot at its box office for three consecutive weeks. It was not until week six that the movie sunk below the top 5 at the Korean box office, showing its popularity in the country. While not all international films translate to success overseas,The Match’s success is a good reason to give it a try on Netflix.
The film also already has award nominations.The Matchreceived two nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards, which recognize excellence in film, theater, and television in South Korea. It was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actor for Lee, further solidifying him as a key talent to watch out for in Korean media. For about five more weeks, the wait continues to see what will happen with the Front Man and more after theSquid Gameseason 2 ending, butThe Matchis a great way to tide audiences over.
Byung-hun Currently Has No Other Pending Projects Aside From One Thriller
The New Movie & Squid Game Season 3 Is All That’s Left In His Filmography Right Now
While Lee has been acting for years, the actor does not have a lot of projects lined up. He is currently gearing up for one big title, however, playing Man-soo in the anticipatedPark Chan-wook movie,No Other Choice. He is still one of the biggest actors in Korea, but this is a slow period in his career.
This is even more reason why people should jump on the chance to watchThe Match, which has been under-marketed by Netflix, as there will not be ample opportunities to see Lee in the near future.
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
The Match portrays the intense rivalry between two legendary Go players who were once student and master.
