As the global hit Squid Game 2 continues to dominate, rumors have been circulating about the series earning a massive 1.5 trillion KRW in revenue. But now, Netflix is stepping in to clear up the confusion and deny these claims!

On January 1, Netflix made an official statement saying that the revenue estimates released by a domestic research organization on December 31 were “entirely false.” The streaming giant explained that their subscription-based model doesn’t generate extra income based on the popularity or viewership of individual shows.

Netflix went on to clarify that they don’t calculate revenue from shows like Squid Game 2 based on how many people watch it. Unlike box office films or video-on-demand services that rely on ticket sales or one-time purchases, Netflix subscribers pay a fixed monthly fee for unlimited access to all content. This makes it impossible to estimate revenue from a single series, no matter how successful it is.

The company expressed concern over the spread of misleading information, saying, “Since we produce content based on monthly subscription fees from our members, we are worried about the impact of false claims.”

Earlier, a research group had claimed that Squid Game 1 cost 25 billion KRW to produce and earned about 1 trillion KRW in revenue. With Squid Game 2 reportedly having a much higher production budget, they estimated it could generate at least 1.5 trillion KRW, but Netflix has made it clear that such predictions are not accurate.

Fans are left wondering just how much Squid Game 2 is really making—but one thing’s for sure: Netflix isn’t buying into the hype.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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