Director Lee Jae Kyu, who directed "All of Us Are Dead", talked about the popularity of "Squid Game".

Director Lee Jae Kyu cautiously said in an interview with Netflix's original "All of Us Are Dead" (written by Chun Sung Il, directed by Lee Jae Kyu) on the morning of February 7th, "It is also true that the invitation of "Squid Game" is burdensome".

Director Lee Jae Kyu continued, "When 'Squid Game' was first released in September, didn't an explosive response occur after hearing worldwide favorable reviews?", adding, "At that time, I was very surprised and happy", he said.

Director Lee Jae Kyu said, "I was close to director Hwang Dong Hyuk, so I thought about texting him", adding, "As a friend, I texted him, 'My work is going out next year, but I'm dying of pressure because of the Squid Game', and he replied, 'What's the pressure, I just left the door slightly open. Don't feel pressured and just do it'".

He continued, "Rather, he told me an anecdote saying, 'Thank me', and said, 'Nevertheless, it is true that it is a burden. It is more burdensome to be compared with the Squid Game, an insurmountable four-dimensional wall. However, it seems true that many people around the world have become interested in Korean content through "Squid Game". Since the window is slightly opened, good Korean works must be delivered continuously through the open door. I think, in that sense, I hope your work will succeed the Squid Game'".

Unlike Director Lee Jae Kyu's exaggeration, "All of Us Are Dead" has topped the world at the same time as it was released and has maintained its top position for nine consecutive days already. It is 323 points ahead of "Black Desire", which is ranked second in terms of Flix Patrol.

Regarding this popularity, director Lee Jae Kyu said, "It's amazing that so many people talk positively and have fun. When I heard that I was the world's No. 1 player, two years passed by like a flash. I never expected this to happen. I was expecting that they would feel the emotions and stories contained in the work, but I didn't expect the work to go this well".

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BTS’s V is creating major buzz in Indonesia once again, and this time, it’s all thanks to his role as a global ambassador for the financial platform SimInvest!

In March 2023, V was chosen as the face of the Indonesian investment platform, and he continues to hold the title for the second consecutive year. SimInvest has seen impressive growth thanks to V’s loyal fanbase, particularly among the younger generation. The platform expressed their delight, revealing that V’s influence has played a huge role in their success.

For 2024, the platform is making an exciting move by adding legendary actor Jackie Chan as a co-ambassador alongside V. SimInvest hopes that this partnership will boost the platform’s appeal even further and help build trust among a wider audience.

To celebrate the incredible growth, SimInvest threw an event in Jakarta from January 16 to 24. They set up a special booth at the MRT station where fans could grab exclusive V-themed merchandise and enjoy free coffee. As expected, the turnout was massive, with fans flooding the station and forming long lines. The crowd was so large that the event had to be paused multiple times for safety reasons, as SimInvest had to manage the growing number of fans. Both the company and the fans were in awe of the overwhelming "V-effect"!

V’s popularity in Indonesia is undeniable. On Instagram, he was recently ranked as the second most influential celebrity in the world—just behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He also tops the search volume charts on Indonesia’s Google Trends for Korean stars.

This isn’t the first time V has caused a stir in Indonesia. Back in 2021, during BTS's ambassadorship with Hyundai Motors at the Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), a "Hyundai x BTS" photo booth saw V being the most popular member with attendees. Fans couldn’t get enough of the global superstar!

It’s clear that V’s impact in Indonesia—and globally—continues to grow stronger, with fans everywhere eager to show their love for the K-pop icon!

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