Director Hwang Dong-hyeok, health-conscious ‘Ogem2’Completed “A mixture of emotions” [Squid Game Season 2 Press Conference①]
‘Squid Game’ Director Hwang Dong-hyuk and CEO Kim Ji-yeon of Cyran Pictures shared their thoughts ahead of the release of the new season.
On the afternoon of August 1, a press conference for the new season of the Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ was held at the Nuri Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who wrote and directed the ‘Squid Game’ series, and CEO Kim Ji-yeon of Cyran Pictures attended the event that day.
‘Squid Game’Season 2 is about people who participated in a mysterious survival show with a prize of 45.6 billion won and risk their lives challenging extreme games to become the ultimate winner. It follows the story of ‘Ki-hoon’ (Lee Jung-jae), who gave up on going to the United States and returns with his own goals. The cast includes Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, and Gong Yoo, who returned from Season 1, and Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun (former Big Bang T.O.P.), Noh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an.
Director Hwang Dong-hyeok initially did not plan to make ‘Squid Game’ a seasonal series, but decided on a new season after it became a huge global hit. He confessed that he had to film Season 2 while taking toothache medication, saying that he lost six of his teeth due to extreme stress during Season 1. He also revealed that he is afraid to go to the dentist even though he expects to have more teeth pulled.
Looking back on the process of working on the new season, Director Hwang said, “I think it would not be easy for creators in any country, not just Korea, to create Season 2 that exceeds the expectations of Season 1. I also experienced that making Season 2 was not easy, just as all creators feel. “Because the expectations were high, I felt a lot of pressure to create a work that would exceed those expectations,” he said, confessing, “I think I put the most effort I can put into any work in my life into this one.” He continued, “As we worked on the latter half of the production, I think that the effort was sufficiently reflected on the screen. Not only mine, but also the efforts of many staff members and actors paid off, resulting in a second season that I am personally satisfied with. Of course, it will be subject to the viewers’ objective judgment, but I once again promise and pledge that we will deliver the best result.”
Season 2 of ‘Squid Game’ has been confirmed to be released on December 26, 2024. Season 3 is scheduled to meet viewers in 2025.
Regarding the release date, CEO Kim explained, “Since the Christmas season is a global year-end holiday timing, I simply hope that as many people as possible will spend the end and beginning of the year at home with ‘Squid Game’.”
He added, “I‘m so worried. ’What if everyone goes on a trip for Christmas and no one watches Netflix?‘ I’m worried, but I‘m working hard with the thought that if word gets out that it’s fun, people might watch it. Season 2 has fewer episodes than Season 1, so it would be a big deal if it could beat it in terms of running time. I want to see good results in Season 2 as well, but regardless of ‘we win’ or ‘we don‘t’, I hope that you receive a good message as much as we worked hard to make it, and I hope that you understand my intentions. I know that the situation is different from the COVID-19 period,” he said.
Director Hwang said, “I think it would be good to watch a movie in the theater on Christmas and then watch Squid Game at home the next day.” He expressed his confidence by saying, “I know that there are more competitors and the situation is not easy compared to Season 1. However, I try not to focus on numbers. You can look forward to a more advanced, deeper, and more complete show than Season 1.”
Jeong Hee-yeon, Donga.com reporter shine2562@donga.com
Photo courtesy of Netflix
