Jo Yuri, a former member of girl group IZ*ONE, recently garnered significant attention for her role in Netflix's global hit “Squid Game 2.”
When the producers announced the new cast of “Squid Game 2” last year, Jo Yuri’s appearance was a surprise. Compared to prominent names such as Im Si Wan, Lee Jin Wook, Kang Ha Neul, Park Sung Hoon, Yang Dong Geun, Park Gyu Young, T.O.P… Jo Yuri is less known in the film industry.
In 2018, Jo Yuri participated in Mnet's reality show Produce 48 and won 3rd place, debuting in the project girl group IZ*ONE in October of the same year. IZ*ONE has achieved certain successes despite only being active for more than 2 years, Jo Yuri is also somewhat known as the group's main vocalist.
After IZ*ONE disbanded (April 2021), Jo Yuri began her solo career with her debut album “Glassy”. In 2022, she tried her hand at acting, playing the lead role in the web drama “Mimicus”. That same year, she made a cameo appearance in the drama “Work Later, Drink Now 2”.
“Squid Game 2,” which will be released on December 26, 2024, is only Jo Yuri’s third film. In the film, she plays Jun Hee, a character with a complicated past.
Orphaned at a young age, Jun Hee's life took a turn for the worse when she fell in love with a YouTuber obsessed with "virtual money" - Myung Gi (Im Si Wan).
Because of listening to Myung Gi, Jun Hee loses a large sum of money in a cryptocurrency scam. After breaking up with Myung Gi, she discovers that she is pregnant. Myung Gi's disappearance makes her life even more difficult, leading her to join the deadly game.
Despite not being the main character, Jun Hee survives the paper-breaking and matching games, overcoming many obstacles.
During the vote to continue the game, like Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae), Jun Hee voted "X" 3 times, expressing frustration with the deadly bet.
Jun Hee is one of the notable female characters in “Squid Game 2” and is expected to return in season 3, which will premiere in the middle of this year.
Actress Jo Yuri's popularity is evident in her skyrocketing Instagram following. Before the show's release, her account had 1.5 million followers. But just a few weeks after the show aired, her followers doubled to over 3.5 million.
According to the media, “Squid Game 2” is definitely a milestone in Jo Yuri’s career, marking a clear transition from a Kpop idol to an actress.
