bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

The Korea Times

By Park Jin-hai
As the highly anticipated new season of Squid Game approaches its December release, the silence has been broken.
Creator, director and producer Hwang Dong-hyuk, who captivated global audiences by exploring humanity’s darker sides in season one of the hit Netflix series, said his latest season goes even deeper into the harsh realities of the world.
“When people asked me why Squid Game was so popular, I often responded that perhaps it’s because the world has become as harsh as the world depicted in the show,” he said.
“I felt that’s why people could relate to it so much. However, three years have passed since then, and I don’t think the world has improved.”

With poverty and inequality still prevalent and conflicts and wars both within and between nations intensified, Hwang wanted to create a story that re-examines whether we have the power to change a deteriorating world.
“Are we capable of doing so? Are we beings who can accomplish such a feat? I wanted to seriously discuss whether there is hope for us,” he said.
Released in 2021, Squid Game revolved around a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom were in deep financial hardship, risked their lives to play a series of deadly children’s games for the chance to win a 45.6 billion won (US$33 million) prize.
Squid Game season one broke Netflix records, with 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first month. As the first non-English series nominated for the US Primetime Emmy Awards, it made history for Korean content, bagging six trophies, including outstanding drama series.
Season two, slated for a December 26 release, picks up where the first season left off, with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the previous winner, deciding not to board a flight to the United States and instead returning to the game.
I’ve given my all to this project … I’m confident that the hard work is evident on screen
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk
Hwang said that the most substantial change in the new season lies in Seong’s character. While he was a naive participant in the first season, he returns in the second season with a clear objective of seeking revenge and bringing the games to an end.
“Season two will introduce fresh characters and games while expanding on the theme of division. The survival vote will be central to the plot, symbolising the growing polarisation and conflicts in the world,” Hwang said.
While the series earned praise for its scathing critique of capitalism, some viewers found the violent scenes in certain games unsettling.
The director clarified that he viewed the violence, murder and harsh punishments depicted in the show as more symbolic and metaphorical than literal when compared to other content.
“The violence and harsh punishments inflicted upon those who fail in society’s competition are symbolic representations of the punishments imposed by the system,” he said.
“This is intended to convey the elimination and exclusion of those who are left behind. I viewed these as symbolic acts of violence rather than literal depictions, such as a serial killer murdering someone.
“The series questions whether humanity, ethics and morality can survive in a highly competitive world. So, season two will delve deeper into these themes, presenting more challenges to human ethics.”

There will be more new games in season 2 that involve characters helping each other, leading to more dramatic plots within the games, Hwang said.
Kim Ji-yeon, the show’s executive producer and chief executive of Firstman Studio, emphasised that significant effort has been invested into making season two more visually stunning, from grander sets to meticulous production design, living up to the high expectations of Squid Game fans worldwide.
According to Hwang and Kim, one of the biggest challenges was keeping the show’s secrets – from new games to characters’ fates – under wraps, given the large cast and anticipated plot twists.
“The difficulty with Squid Game was that revealing any information would be considered a spoiler, so to prevent this, even the actors who were eliminated didn’t know other characters’ fates beyond their own scenes,” Kim said.
“They didn’t know where or how others would die, so even while filming together, only a few actors knew the full script.”

To prevent script leaks, the team also implemented a new, secure script-viewing system to avoid unauthorised access, Kim added.
Reflecting on the pressure to surpass the success of the first season, Hwang expressed confidence in season two’s enhanced depth and complexity.
“The high expectations put a lot of pressure on me to create something even better,” he said.
“But I believe I’ve given my all to this project. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m confident that the hard work is evident on screen. I hope people will see that seasons two and three have achieved a deeper level of completion than the first.”
Netflix announced this summer that Squid Game will conclude with a third and final season, slated for release in 2025.
Read the full story at The Korea Times


Squid Game creator on season 2 and wanting to ask whether there’s hope for humans

Who is Bethenny Frankel’s new beau, Tom Villante? The Real Housewives star just made it official with the Princeton graduate, businessman and father at the Yellowstone season 5 premiere

Who are Dr Phil’s sons, Jay and Jordan McGraw? The talk show host spoke at a Trump rally, but said it wasn’t an endorsement of the president-elect – and he would have gladly spoken at a Harris rally

Meet Kelly Reilly’s husband Kyle Baugher: the Yellowstone star’s long-time love played lacrosse at Princeton, works in finance, and recently hung out on the show set in Montana with their dog

TV shows and streaming video

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk at a screening for season two in Los Angeles in November. He talks about exploring whether humanity can prevail in an increasingly polarised world, and coming back with a show that’s bigger and better. Photo: AP

Hwang (left) and Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae arrive at a screening for Squid Game season two in Los Angeles, in November 2024. Photo: AP

Lee’s character Seong is transformed in season two, from a naive participant in the deadly games to a man bent on exacting revenge on those behind them. Photo: AP

Two people dressed like Squid Game characters stand at a special event for season two in Los Angeles. Photo: Reuters

Netflix K-drama Gyeongseong Creature season 2 review: awful follow-up is a big step down

Han So-hee (left) as seeker Yoon Chae-ok and Park Seo-jun as private investigator Jang Ho-jae in a still from the Korean drama Gyeongseong Creature season 2. Photo: Netflix

Park Seo-jun as private investigator Jang Ho-jae in a still from Gyeongseong Creature season 2. Photo: Lim Hyo Sun/Netflix

Bae Hyeon-seong (left) as Seung-jo, a dangerous man with special powers, and Lee Mu-saeng as Captain Kuroko in a still from Gyeongseong Creature season 2. Photo: Lim Hyo Sun/Netflix

Han So-hee as seeker Yoon Chae-ok in a still from Gyeongseong Creature season 2. Photo: Netflix

11 of the best new K-dramas to watch in November 2024, from Gangnam B-Side to Mr Plankton

Lee You-mi (left) and Woo Do-hwan in a still from Mr Plankton, one of our top Korean drama picks for November 2024. Photo: Jiyeon Kim/Netflix

Yoo Yeon-seok (left) and Chae Soo-bin in a still from When the Phone Rings.

The 10 most famous K-drama actresses of all time ranked, from IU and Song Hye-kyo to Son Ye-jin and Kim Hye-ja

Song Hye-kyo recently starred in the hit drama The Glory. Photo: Netflix

The Post’s pick of the top 10 actresses in K-drama series includes Song Hye-kyo (above), who recently starred in the hit Netflix drama The Glory. Photo: Netflix

IU in a still from “My Mister” (2018). 

Jun Ji-hyun in a still from “Legend of the Blue Sea” (2016). Photo: SBS

Choi Ji-woo (right) and Bae Yong-joon in a still from “Winter Sonata” (2002).

Lee Young-ae (right) and Ji Jin-hee in a still from “Jewel in the Palace” (2003). Photo: MBC

Kim Hye-soo in a still from “Juvenile Justice” (2022). Photo: Netflix

Kim Go-eun in a still from “Little Women” (2022). Photo: tvN

Son Ye-jin in a still from “Crash Landing on You” (2019). Photo: tvN

Gong Hyo-jin in a still from “When the Camellia Blooms” (2019). Photo: Netflix

Kim Hye-ja in a still from “Mother” (2009). Photo: SCMPost

Song Hye-kyo in a still from “The Glory” (2022). Photo: Netflix

The 15 best romantic K-dramas of all time, from Crash Landing on You and My Love from the Star to Secret Garden and Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won in a still from “Secret Garden”. Photo: SBS

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin in a still from “Crash Landing on You” (2019). There have been many romantic K-drama classics over the years. We rank our 15 best ever. Photo: TvN

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

Ahead of season two’s release, Hwang Dong-hyuk talks about how it examines whether we have the power to change a deteriorating world


Ahead of season two’s release, Hwang Dong-hyuk talks about how it examines whether we have the power to change a deteriorating world.


Netflix

K-drama news