On December 9, director Hwang Dong Hyuk and the large cast of “Squid Game 2” such as Lee Jung Jae, Lee Hyun Bun, Lee Jin Uk, Park Sung Hoon, Im Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, Wi Ha Joon, Park Gyu Young… attended the film’s press conference held in Seoul (Korea).
But what caught the audience’s attention was T.O.P (Choi Seung Hyun)’s complete absence. Even though he was one of the actors who appeared prominently in the first trailer of “Squid Game 2” released in early November.
In fact, T.O.P caused concern when he was absent from the recent poster of “Squid Game 2”. In addition to his failure to attend the press conference, the audience questioned whether T.O.P’s character in this film “has little screen time” and “will soon die”?
In addition, at the press conference, director Hwang Dong Hyuk explained some of the highlights of the new film. According to the director, the content of “Squid Game 2” will make the audience think of the real world, especially in the context of the recent chaos in Korea when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
"Squid Game Season 2 viewers will be able to find scenes that remind them of the conflicts, divisions, and senseless upheavals that are happening not only in our country but also around the world. This drama is no different from how we see this world," said director Hwang.
“It is with a heavy heart that I release Squid Game 2 at this time,” he added. “Like everyone here, I couldn’t believe the announcement of martial law and stayed up all night to monitor the situation.
As a citizen, I am angry that the whole country cannot sleep and has to take to the streets (protest), as well as having to spend the end of the year in fear and depression because of these absurd events."
The director also emphasized the main difference between season 1 and season 2 of "Squid Game", which is the introduction of a voting system that allows participants to decide whether to continue or leave the game.
According to him, the voting system gives the audience the opportunity to reflect more deeply on current global events: "There's been a lot of discussion about voting lately, and given the current situation - not just in Korea but globally, with the US just finishing its presidential election - it's interesting to think about how voting connects to the real world."
Regarding the new season's participants, director Hwang noted, there will be a significant change in demographics, with younger individuals playing more prominent roles than in the first season.
He explained that the decision was deliberate, reflecting broader societal changes: “When I was writing season 1, I thought, for someone to accumulate that level of debt and accept to participate in this risky game, they probably have to be a little older. Young people don’t seem to be able to go through such big failures.”
But a series of global events, including the pandemic and the cryptocurrency boom, have caused him to reconsider.
"I see that the younger generation is gradually abandoning the idea of earning money through labor and instead turning to activities such as stock trading or cryptocurrency investment, pursuing the goal of making quick and bigger profits.
This made me realize that season 2 of Squid Game could explore the issues and realities that the younger generation faces," director Hwang explained.
"Squid Game 2" will premiere on Netflix on December 26.
