Actress Lee Yoo-mi worked part-time delivering food before 'Squid Game' success

Lee Yoo-mi did not anticipate she would be recognised after her role in 'Squid Game'. Photo: Lee Yoo-mi/Instagram

Lee Yoo-mi still finds it hard to comprehend her newfound popularity after starring in the Netflix global success Squid Game.

In her interview with Cosmopolitan Korea for its December issue, the actress spoke about the changes in her life following the show's success. Making her debut in 2010, Lee had been a part of the entertainment industry for over 11 years.

"I was puzzled, it was amazing but I still can't believe the kind of popularity that I was receiving," she shared.

The 27-year-old recalled that prior to her breakout role in Squid Game, she would take up part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. Oblivious to her newfound fame, the star went back to her part-time job after the series had wrapped filming.

Lee recalled: "During my time off, I would work part-time for Coupang Eats. All of a sudden, everyone knew who I was. I was baffled. It was amazing, but I still can’t grasp the extent of my popularity and it’s because I still have so much that I want to achieve. I have been working hard these days to remember who I am."

Lee has already been hard at work on her next role in the upcoming zombie series, All Of Us Are Dead. The actress revealed that she has been preparing herself for some slander based on how unlikable her character is compared to her role as Player 240.

"The people who saw my acting said I'm so detestable. A lot of things that my character does will make people think, 'Humans shouldn't act that way.'

"However, I think those actions are only possible because she's human. So I thought it was intriguing how such irony was depicted," she further explained.