'Squid Game' makes history with four SAG Award nominations

The poster for Netflix Korea's ″Squid Game″ (2021) [NETFLIX]

Netflix Korea’s “Squid Game” received four nominations for this year’s Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, including Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series.

The series received three other nods — two individual nominations for lead actors Lee Jung-jae, who is up for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor, and Jung Ho-yeon, who is up for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor. The final nomination is for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble.

"Squid Game" is the first non-English-language drama series to be nominated for an award in the 28-year history of the SAG awards.

In the Ensemble Series category, “Squid Game” will compete against “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Morning Show,” “Succession” and “Yellowstone.”

Lee will compete against Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong of “Succession” and Billy Crudup of “The Morning Show.”

Jung will compete against Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon of “The Morning Show,” Elizabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Sarah Snook of “Succession.”

Finally, the stunt ensemble nomination pits "Squid Game" against “Cobra Kai,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Loki” and “Mare of Easttown.”

“Since we released the show ‘Squid Game,’ we have experienced many surprising events," director Hwang Dong-hyuk told Variety. "But today’s nomination for four categories with the SAG has to be one of the most surprising, and one of the happiest moments we’ve experienced.

"I’m especially honored in that it’s not only one or two lead actors that were recognized, but the entire ensemble was nominated, as well as the stunt ensemble, which is truly a great honor. And it’s great that I’m able to thank every single one of the crew and the cast that I’ve worked so hard on ‘Squid Game.’”

Variety predicted that with major nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards, the series is “positioning itself as a major Emmy contender.” The Emmy Awards will be held later this year.

SAG nominations and awards are also considered as indicators of potential Oscar success.

The 28th SAG awards ceremony will be held on Feb. 27 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]