Lee Jung-jae, who portrayed Gi-hun in Squid Game, feels an intimate connection with his character as he returns for the highly anticipated second season. Reflecting on his time between seasons, Lee shares that living with Gi-hun for nearly two years made him feel as if he truly became the character. “I really felt like I was him,” he says.
Squid Game, which became a global sensation after its release in 2021, follows a deadly underground competition where participants in debt play children’s games with lethal consequences. The show’s success shattered records, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series and winning numerous accolades, including Primetime Emmy Awards for acting and directing. Lee’s career skyrocketed, propelling him to the Cannes Film Festival and a role in Disney+’s The Acolyte.
The second season of Squid Game was expected to take years, as creator Hwang Dong-hyuk spent years crafting the first season. However, to everyone’s surprise, Hwang wrote the second season in just six months, alongside a planned third season. Hwang expressed that he is unsure if he will ever be able to write so quickly again, but the challenge of creating new characters and expanding their stories came more naturally to him. The toughest part was figuring out Gi-hun’s next steps, which Lee praised Hwang for handling masterfully.
Despite the high expectations, the second season has already garnered recognition, being nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Drama Series category. New cast members, including actor Yang Dong-geun, express both excitement and caution, acknowledging the challenge of living up to the original series. “There’s a Korean phrase, ‘There’s not a sequel that does better than its prequel,’” says Yang, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the season’s reception.
For seasoned actors like Lee Byung-hun, who reprises his role as the villain, Squid Game has elevated his career to new heights. Despite appearing in big-budget films like G.I. Joe, Lee credits Squid Game with expanding his global recognition. “If anyone through Squid Game wishes to see more of me, nothing would be more rewarding,” Lee adds.
The cast also shared insights into the audition process, which took months, with some actors, like Jo Yu-ri, feeling overwhelmed by the excitement upon receiving their roles. The show’s influence continues to grow, with a second season of a reality competition show and an English-language adaptation in development.
However, the season is not without controversy. A transgender character played by Park Sung-hoon has raised discussions around LGBTQ+ representation in Korea. Hwang acknowledges the difficulty of casting a transgender actor but believes Park’s talent made him the best choice for the role.
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