‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Byung-hun's L.A. Home Trashed & Burglarized

"Squid Game" star Lee Byung-hun's Los Angeles home was burglarized, part of a trend affecting wealthy neighborhoods. Fortunately, he was away, learning about it later. The break-in follows Lena Waithe's similar incident.

Last month, Lee and his wife, Lee Min-jung, welcomed their second child. Despite his busy schedule with "Squid Game 2," Lee actively supported his wife during childbirth. The couple shared their pregnancy journey on Instagram.

According to a report, the 53-year-old actor was fortunately away at the time and only learned about the intrusion when a team member checked on his property, discovering a "smashed sliding glass door."

At the time of writing, authorities are unsure about the stolen items and their value, and Byung-hun plans to assess any losses upon his return. The "Squid Game" star will collaborate with the police to unravel the incident in the coming days.

Law enforcement insiders who spoke to TMZ noted that it seems Byung-hun wasn't specifically targeted; instead, the break-in "appears to be the work of one of the burglary crews that have been robbing wealthy neighborhood."

This incident follows a recent trend, with comedian Lena Waithe falling victim to a similar burglary just weeks earlier. Thieves targeted her West Hollywood mansion, making off with approximately $200,000 in jewelry after smashing a window while she was away.

The discovery was made by a member of Waithe's staff the next day, who found the front door unlocked.

Last month, Lee Byung-hun and his wife, Lee Min-jung, announced the arrival of their second child.

In a statement, BH Entertainment, Byung-hun's agency, said: "Both the mother and the newborn baby are in good health, and Lee (Byung-hun) is supporting his wife."

The agency further revealed that despite a hectic schedule filming "Squid Game 2," the internationally acclaimed actor actively supported his wife during the birth.

Byung-hun and Min-jung tied the knot in 2013 and welcomed their first son, Joon-hoo, in 2015. Last August, the couple announced their pregnancy and even shared their second pregnancy journey on Min-jung's Instagram.

During his Best Actor acceptance speech at the 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards, Byung-hun shared his anticipation for their new addition, stating: "My second child is due next month. We have been fondly calling her Birdie as a pre-birth nickname. I wish to dedicate this honor to my wife, son, and Birdie, who will be watching from home."

Apart from his role in "Squid Game," Byung-hun showcased his talent in the acclaimed drama-thriller "Concrete Utopia," South Korea's entry for the Oscars and a major 2023 box office success, grossing $28.9 million from 3.85 million admissions, per Variety.

The film, based on the webtoon "Cheerful Outcast" by Kim Soong-young, depicts a post-earthquake Seoul with the Hwanggoong Apartment complex as the sole standing structure. Byung-hun's character, Young-Tak, takes charge temporarily, testing moral values amid the crisis.

Following its Korean release, "Concrete Utopia" screened at various international film festivals, including Toronto, Sitges, and Fantastic Fest.

Variety's Owen Gleiberman described the film as a gripping drama, stating that "['Concrete Utopia'] places its characters in a desperate, scary, do-or-die situation and then refuses to tell the audience what to think about them." He added: "It's a fractious, blood-soaked drama about the will to survive that feels like 'Earthquake' crossed with 'Lord of the Flies."

Recognizing the growing interest in Asian entertainment, Jaehee Hong, SVP of content at Rakuten Viki, expressed: "As the appetite for Asian entertainment continues to grow with U.S. audiences, this is a significant moment for Rakuten Viki as we look to raise the bar in offering the latest and most buzzworthy titles to fans."

Lee Kyung Joon from 815 Pictures, the North American distributor, hailed "Concrete Utopia" as a prime example of "Korean cinema which balances cinematic artistry and entertainment."