Lee Jong-jae Reflects on Returning to “Squid Game” as Season Two Continues to Gain Momentum
Lee Jong-jae, returning to his role as Gi-hun in Squid Game season two, shared that stepping back onto the set felt like he had never left. “I really felt like I was him,” he said, recalling his deep connection to the character after spending nearly two years with him, including during promotional activities for the show.
Squid Game, a global phenomenon, debuted in 2021 as Netflix’s most-watched series. It follows a deadly competition where players in financial distress compete in childlike games for a large cash prize, unaware of the lethal stakes involved. The series garnered numerous accolades, including Emmy Awards for Lee Jung-jae’s acting and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s direction. Lee’s success continued to soar, leading to his Cannes debut and his first English-language role in Disney’s Star Wars series, The Acolyte.
Despite the massive success of the first season, Lee expressed initial concerns about the timeline for the second season, noting the long time it took for Hwang to craft the original. However, Hwang surprised everyone by completing the second season—and a third season—in just six months. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to write something that fast again,” Hwang admitted.
The new season introduces fresh characters, but the central challenge was determining Gi-hun’s storyline. Lee praised Hwang’s genius upon reading the scripts.
While the Squid Game universe expands with new characters and a reality competition series based on the show, some actors remain cautious about the audience’s reception. “There’s a Korean phrase, ‘there’s not a sequel that does better than its prequel,’” said actor Yang Dong-geong, who debuts in season two. However, optimism is high, as the new season has already earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series.
Lee Byung-hun, who reprises his villain role, credits Squid Game for propelling his career to new heights, noting that the show introduced his work to a global audience. For many of the newcomers, like Jo Yu-ri, the audition process was long and emotional, with some even celebrating privately upon receiving the news of their casting.
Season two is not without controversy, particularly surrounding the casting of a transgender character played by Park Sung-hoon. Hwang acknowledged the challenges in finding an actor for the role, citing the less widely accepted views on LGBTQ+ issues in Korea compared to Western cultures. Despite this, Hwang emphasized that Park’s talent made him the right choice for the role.
As the Squid Game franchise continues to expand with season three in post-production, the impact of the series remains undeniable on both the entertainment industry and the careers of its stars.
