As a global audience eagerly anticipates the return of the captivating series, Squid Game, I find myself deeply moved by the passion and dedication of its creators. Having had the privilege of witnessing the meteoric rise of this South Korean phenomenon, I am particularly intrigued by Hwang Dong-hyuk’s journey.
In front of a towering replica of the “Squid Game” doll, the makers and cast of the popular Netflix series met with reporters in South Korea on Monday for the first time to discuss the upcoming second season. Fans and influencers gathered from around the world for this occasion shared their nervousness about being near the lethal Squid Game figure, as well as the numerous pink-suited security personnel stationed throughout the event held at Seoul’s modern Dongdaemun Design Plaza. However, it didn’t take long for the director and creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, to remind everyone that a more serious issue was overshadowing the show’s highly anticipated release in its home country – a deepening political crisis triggered by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent declaration of martial law.
Hwang expressed deep sadness as he stated, ‘There’s unrest in Korea right now.’ Later, he mentioned his uncertainty about whether journalists would attend the premiere, considering the ongoing events within his nation.
Hwang expressed that it feels almost preordained to launch this series at this time, as he carefully amplified the grim social and political critique within ‘Squid Games’ for Season 2, mirroring the escalating global conflicts, divisions, unrest, and strife seen in societies worldwide.
Since Tuesday night, South Korea has been grappling with a critical situation following the president’s controversial move to impose martial law, which was later rescinded due to public backlash and a unanimous vote from the national legislature. On Saturday, massive protests occurred outside the National Assembly as lawmakers met once more to decide on impeachment for President Yoon. However, the president managed to avoid impeachment when all members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) abandoned the chamber and boycotted the vote. Since then, PPP leaders have claimed they are handling the country’s affairs while President Yoon prepares for eventual resignation. Critics from the opposition and many analysts contend that this extraordinary arrangement lacks a constitutional basis and will only prolong the political crisis.
On Saturday, I found myself utterly baffled by the result, and as a proud Korean citizen, I couldn’t help but feel outraged.
He stated, ‘It’s crucial we demonstrate in public.’ Regarding the individual who ordered martial law, they must accept accountability—either through impeachment or voluntary resignation. I wish for us to restore tranquility and allow the Korean people to celebrate a peaceful holiday season as the year concludes—they deserve such peace.
A substantial portion of the Korean entertainment sector has voiced their backing for protests advocating Yoon’s dismissal. On Friday, approximately 2,500 figures from the country’s film industry, which includes acclaimed directors such as Bong Joon-ho, winner of multiple Oscars for “Parasite”, and Park Chan-wook, a renowned auteur, put their names on a petition demanding Yoon’s impeachment and arrest.
He stated: “Season two closely mirrors current global events. With a sense of sadness, I believe watching the second season of Squid Game might feel similar to watching the news, and that’s the perspective I encourage you to adopt.
In Seoul, numerous instances during Netflix’s Squid Game spectacle resembled regular events for a highly anticipated debut in the entertainment world – actors taking pictures and sharing their anticipation about resuming work for the upcoming season of a massively successful show.
The star of the Emmy-award-winning series, Lee Jung-jae, mentioned that the eagerness for the upcoming second season is immense, and when the cameras were rolling, they almost found a sense of relief from the pressure.
The unveiling of “Squid Game” is undeniably a significant milestone for Netflix’s Korean and international content departments. In preparation, they have transformed Seoul’s colossal downtown Dongdaemun Design Plaza into a set reminiscent of the show, dubbed “fan activation zones.” Additionally, a winding pink carpet has been laid out to welcome the stars gracing the premiere screening of Season 2’s opening episode on Monday evening.
The first season of “Squid Game” continues to break records as the most-watched series ever on Netflix, amassing a staggering 330 million views so far, or approximately 2.8 billion hours watched, according to the streaming giant. This show has played a significant role in boosting the global appeal of Korean content, with Netflix revealing that over 80% of its current worldwide subscribers have streamed some form of Korean content on their platform.
After releasing the teaser trailer for Season 1, viewership for Squid Game saw a 60% increase, suggesting huge excitement about the upcoming episodes, as reported by Netflix.
During the filming of Season 2, Hwang mentioned that he experienced “more dental issues” or simply put, “further toothaches” arose during this season.
As a gamer, I’ve been putting off that dental appointment. Every time I think about it, I can’t help but imagine him telling me I’ll lose at least a couple more pearly whites and need some new implants.
The worldwide popularity of ‘Squid Game’ can be attributed to its distinctly Korean theme, featuring traditional Korean games, yet the emotional message it conveys is universally relatable, as noted by Korean leading actor Lee Byung-hun, who portrays the mysterious antagonist, The Front Man.
Lee Jung-jae wants viewers to anticipate that his character has undergone significant transformation as a result of the events in Season 1.
Lee pointed out that though the character remains the same, there’s a significant transformation in him. His perspective towards situations and his interactions with the world will be noticeably different. He is predominantly motivated by achieving goals and holds an unwavering determination to finish the game.
Hwang admitted that Season 2 has a larger number of younger cast members compared to the initial set of episodes. For instance, actress No Eul plays a secretive North Korean defector, Hyun Ju is portrayed as a transgender woman striving for funds for her gender-affirming surgery, Jun Hee represents a strong-willed young woman struggling with heavy debts, and Myung Gi is depicted as a charismatic crypto investor who suffered losses. Furthermore, there are other young characters as well.
During the creation of Season 1, prior to the pandemic, I believed one had to be older to be financially desperate enough to engage in this game,” the director clarified. “I thought that at a younger age, life wouldn’t push you into such deep struggles. But after the pandemic and the surge of cryptocurrency, I recognized that traditional career paths have become obsolete for many. As a result, today’s youth are left with no choice but to chase sudden wealth, which can lead them into significant debt.
He noted that our contemporary society appears to be growing increasingly severe, causing a significant number of individuals to feel as though they’re losing ground or descending.
As a game creator, I always kept in mind that weaving a powerful sociopolitical narrative throughout the second season was essential. However, my main goal when penning the story arcs for the last two seasons was to produce an impactful and entertaining piece of gaming content above all else.
Ultimately, what matters most is that the performance is engaging,” he expressed. “My hope is that it leaves them exclaiming, ‘If this isn’t great entertainment, I’m not sure what is.’
In the second season of “Squid Game,” set to air on December 26th, the struggle between character number 456, played by Lee Jung-jae, and the Front Man will escalate. This conflict is expected to culminate in the series finale of season 3, which is scheduled for release in 2025.
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2024-12-09 11:25