Actor Yang Dong-geun, who recently boarded the second season of Netflix‘s ‘Squid Game’, could not hide his excitement as he felt the ‘global’ popularity of the drama, saying, “It feels like surfing a big wave that only comes once in hundreds of years.”

In season 2, he plays Yong-sik, who reunites with his mother Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) who came to pay off her son’s debt at the death game he participated in after taking on a huge gambling debt. Among the 456 contestants, he was the seventh, wearing the number ‘007’ on his chest. He emphasized that he wanted to continue the momentum of the ‘Lucky Seven’.

O“Star in my 20s, when I hit rock bottom in my 30s, and starting over in my 40s”

Yang Dong-geun was moved, saying, “It‘s been 20 years since I’ve encountered a new masterpiece” since the 2002 MBC drama ‘Breathless’, which is considered a ‘legend’ among many drama fans.

“I debuted as a child actor and became a real ‘big hit’ in my 20s with ‘Breathless’. But it didn‘t last long. I got sick of the celebrity disease and mannerisms, and I ran out of money. I used to play only the main character, but in my 30s, I only played supporting roles and I really hit rock bottom. There was a time when I struggled to break the mold of ‘Do as I please.’ However, I gave up on that obsession and compulsion and prioritized ‘Yang Dong-geun the natural person’ and ‘Yang Dong-geun the father’ rather than ‘actor,’ and that’s how the opportunity called ‘Squid Game’ finally came.”

He said that he was ‘happy’ more than anything because his elementary school children were proud of their father who appeared in ‘Squid Game.’

“Netflix also sends me a lot of Netflix and ‘Squid Game’ related goods. My kids take them to school and show off to their friends. They really like it. ‘Squid Game’ is a great joy not only for me but also for my family.”
O“I want a new album, I have to release it now”

Although Season 2 was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards in the United States but unfortunately failed to win, he expressed confidence, saying, “We will be able to aim for greater love” in Season 3.”

“When Season 3 is released, all of our actors will probably go to the awards ceremony together! Not only the Golden Globes, but also the Emmys (the most prestigious television award in the United States). Since my mom (Kang Ae-shim) and I have such great acting to show in Season 3, I think we might be able to dare to dream of winning an award. Hahaha!”

After the drama was released, videos of ‘Rapper YDG’ activities garnered attention from overseas viewers online, saying, “This is not the time for me to be doing this. “I have to release an album right now,” he said, laughing cheerfully.

“I’ve been longing to release an album for a long time. My computer hard drive is already full of new songs. I think it’s time to come out now. I guess you could say I’m like the Will Smith of Korea (a famous Hollywood actor and rapper)? Haha!”


Reporter Seungmi Lee smlee@donga.com