Squid Game director Hwang Dong Hyuk opened up about the challenges and pressure he faced while working on Season 2 of the hit series.

During a press conference for Squid Game Season 2 on August 1st in Seoul, Hwang Dong Hyuk and CEO Kim Ji Yeon discussed various topics about the new season.

Since its release on Netflix in 2021, Squid Game has been a global phenomenon, breaking records with 1.65 billion hours of viewing in just four weeks. It became Netflix's most-watched show ever and made history as the first non-English series to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy, winning 6 awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae.

At the press conference, Hwang Dong Hyuk revealed the immense pressure he felt creating Season 2. He said, "Season 1 was so successful, so trying to make Season 2 even better has been a huge challenge. I won’t know how it’s fully received until it’s out, but I can say making this season wasn’t easy."

He continued, "The expectations were high, so the pressure was intense. I think I worked harder on this than any other project. Based on the post-production work, I feel my effort shows, and personally, I think Season 2 turned out really well."

Hwang also shared that he wrote the script himself but had support from the CEO, producers, and assistant writers. He added, "I wish I had a writer I’d worked with before, but it was difficult to find one. We had to finish the script quickly and start filming, which made it hard to find someone."

In a lighthearted moment, he revealed, "I had 8 teeth ground down. During filming, I started having toothaches and had to take medication. I’m afraid to go back to the dentist, though, so they’ll probably say I need to pull more teeth."

The director also spoke about the themes of Season 2, saying, "After Season 1 came out, people asked, 'Why do you think Squid Game became so popular?' I answered, 'Maybe the world is as hard as the world in Squid Game.' Three years later, things haven't gotten better. The climate crisis is worsening, and global conflicts are growing. In Season 2, I want to explore whether we have the power to change this world. The answer is unclear, but I want to talk about hope. The new games will focus on cooperation, leading to even more dramatic moments."

Finally, Hwang Dong Hyuk expressed his hopes for the new season, saying, "I hope it gets good reviews and people will watch it. The competition is tougher now, but I’m not obsessed with breaking records. I believe this season is better than Season 1. It’s deeper and more intense, so I’d love to hear praise for its completeness. If that happens, I’ll be satisfied, even if we don’t break any records."

With excitement building around Squid Game globally, fans are eagerly waiting to see what happens in Season 2. The new season will feature a dramatic battle between Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae), who returns to the game for revenge, and the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). The real game will begin again, and fans can expect even more shocking moments. Squid Game Season 2 will be released on Netflix on December 26.

Source (1)

BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

Source (1)