Jung Jaeil composed for ‘Squid Game.’ Now, he steps on the stage as himself.

CULTURE / Music

Jung Jaeil composed for ‘Squid Game.’ Now, he steps on the stage as himself.

Composer Jung Jaeil began his career when he was a middle school student and has since become one of South Korea’s most sought-after film scorers. | COURTESY OF KYODO TOKYO

By Kris Kosaka
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Feb 18, 2026

South Korean composer Jung Jaeil’s musical scores beat at the heart of today’s popular culture, but his name alone probably won’t ring any bells.

Nevertheless, Jung is comfortable behind the scenes, in the studio. “As a producer, I can revise and improve the composition as much as I want. If I make a mistake, I just fix it,” he tells The Japan Times ahead of his Feb. 21 in Ueno.

Composing for acclaimed films such as “Parasite” (2019) and “Mickey 17” (2025), both directed by Bong Joon Ho, as well as director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Korean-language debut, “Broker” (2022), has earned Jung international acclaim and numerous accolades including Primetime Emmy nominations. His work for the hit Netflix series “Squid Game” — for which he composed the music for all three seasons — won him a Hollywood Music in Media Award for best original score for a television series in 2021, making him the first South Korean recognized by the HMMA.