SEOUL CONNECTION

Director Hwang Dong Hyuk and lead actors Lee Jung Jae and Wi Ha Joon of Squid Game fame talk about the global phenomenon with Tanzim Pardiwalla

- Tanzim Pardiwalla

Korean entertainment has been having a moment for a while now. Between gritty crime thriller films and cutesy romantic K-dramas, audiences have been hooked. However, Squid Game, the show that was a global phenomenon in the pandemic, wasn’t a formulaic revenge drama or a fluffy rom-com. The binge-worthy survival thriller uses a series of deadly games to comment on the rot in today’s capitalistic, corrupt and cut-throat society. From breaking records at the Emmys to the star cast winning accolades, the show did everything one would expect a show in a niche like this not to do.

Director Hwang Dong Hyuk and lead actors Lee Jung Jae and Wi Ha Joon admit they did not expect the show to return for a second season. But here we are, back for another round.

THE MAKINGS OF A UNIVERSAL DISRUPTOR

Lee Jung Jae has had a long career. But in 2022, he made history by winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Squid Game. “When we were getting awards in the last awards season, we didn’t know Season 2 was coming out. I thought that was the final step of my Squid Game journey.

But after the awards season, we knew that the next instalment was coming. I realised that this show was going to be a big chunk of my life. So I enjoyed my time on the set with the new cast as well.” Reflecting on the recognition, he shares, “Receiving awards can mean a lot to actors. But I think it also means that people loved and rooted for my character. That directly translates into my introspection about what I can do to make people love and support my characters in other projects going forward.”