HIGH STAKES

Wi Ha Jun gives Hallyu enthusiast Ekta Sinha a look inside the new season of ‘Squid Game'

- Ekta Sinha

In 2021, when I first pressed play on Netflix's 'Squid Game', it was still flying under the radar, mostly watched by K-drama fans. The moment Wi Ha Jun appeared on screen as the intense, brooding cop Hwang Jun-Ho, I was hooked. What started as a late-night binge at 10 pm ended with the morning sun streaming through my window and me sitting there, whispering to myself, "What was that?"

Just days later, I wasn't the only one left reeling. 'Squid Game' had taken the world by storm, quickly becoming Netflix's most-watched original series. Helmed by Hwang Dong-Hyuk, the Korean show surpassed the previous record holder, 'Bridgerton', within the next 28 days. It was viewed by 111 million accounts, making it the most-watched show on the platform at that time. Something the cast and crew never expected, especially for a non-English-language series.

And now, with 'Squid Game' Season 2 knocking on our door, I had the opportunity to sit down with Wi Ha Jun for a conversation. The excitement surrounding the new season is palpable, and I was eager to get his take on what's to come and how his life has changed since the first season.

A GLOBAL PHENOMENON