Squid Game cracks America: The cast attend special LA screening of Netflix smash

There wasn’t a grubby tracksuit in sight on Monday evening as the cast of Squid Game attended a special screening of the Netflix show in Hollywood. 

Principal stars Jung Ho-yeon, Lee Jung-jae and Park Hae-soo were in attendance as the nine-episode series was celebrated at Los Angeles based workspace NeueHouse. 

Leading the red carpet glamour, Ho-yeon, 27, looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder dress with white sheer fringing as she greeted onlookers at the one-off event.  

She added to her look with a pair of versatile black leather boots, while deft touches of make-up drew further attention to her naturally pretty features. 

Already a hugely successful model in her native South Korea, Ho-yeon has previously featured in campaigns and runway shows for designers including Marc Jacobs, Chanel , Max Mara  and Louis Vuitton, becoming a brand ambassador for the latter in 2021. 

But it was her TV debut as troubled North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok that helped win her international recognition following the unprecedented success of Squid Game in the United Kingdom and United States. 

Looking good: Leading the red carpet glamour, Ho-yeon, 27, looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder dress with white sheer fringing as she greeted onlookers at the one-off event

In good company: She was joined by co-stars Lee Jung-jae (L) and Park Hae Soo (R) at Los Angeles based workspace NeueHouse

Say cheese: (L-R) Lee Jung-jae, Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk and Park Hae Soo

Squid Game is officially the most-watched series on Netflix, drawing in 142million people in its first month – nearly double the previous record held by Bridgerton.

Since becoming available on September 17, 142million subscribers have watched Squid Game – the most ever in the first 30 days of a show on the streaming site.

The South Korean drama is also being praised with adding 4.4million new subscribers, increasing Netflix global subscriptions to 213.5 million up from 209million.

Iconic: Ho-yeon plays troubled North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok in the hit Netflix show

Success: Squid Game is officially the most-watched series on Netflix, drawing in 142million people in its first month – nearly double the previous record held by Bridgerton 

Here they come: The show’s popularity was evident as they cast took centre stage on Monday evening 

It boosted the company’s profits to $1.4billion – nearly double the amount it took in during the third quarter of 2020.

Netflix also celebrated how Squid Game has ‘pierced the cultural zeitgeist’ with skits on Saturday Night Live dedicated to it and TikTok videos that have garnered more than 42billion views

‘Demand for consumer products to celebrate the fandom for Squid Game is high and those items are on their way to retail now,’ the company said in its letter.

Up for grabs: Squid Game tells the story of a survival game in which 456 contestants risk their lives in deadly games with prizes of $45.6 billion available

Bosses also said they planned for more content in the fourth quarter, and blamed a lack of new shows this year on delays to production caused by COVID-19.

‘Assuming no new Covid waves or unforeseen events that result in large scale production shutdowns, we currently anticipate a more normalized content slate in 2022, with a greater number of originals in 2022 vs. 2021 and a release schedule that is more balanced over the course of the year, as compared to 2021.’

Squid Game tells the story of a survival game in which 456 contestants risk their lives in deadly games with prizes of $45.6 billion available.

Netflix said that the show, which was penned and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, has also seen a sharp spike in demand for Halloween items, which are currently being shipped to retail locations.