Although the creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, is basking in the glory of success around the world, it has come at a cost. Popular for showing brutal struggle in the society in his works, Hwang shared that his shooting during the first season was so stressful that he lost some teeth. Now, as he returns to set for Season 2, he’s facing even more pressure but admits that the financial rewards of the project and an unfinished storyline drove him to continue.
In this new season, launching on December 26, 2024, fans will be looking at an even darker perspective of human nature. Hwang explores how modern-day conflicts exceed the boundaries of economic or social problems in nature but are intergenerational and over political lines, highlighting the danger of divisiveness. The show’s characters are forced to take sides, which taps into a message of tribalism and discord that really seems to define modern society.
Yet with its monstrous success, Hwang joins other Korean creators in pointing out the problems in the industry, such as a lack of decent compensation from streaming platforms like Netflix. The way things are going, better pay and fairer copyright laws have gradually been put in place, while South Korean creators are claiming recognition not only for their craft but for their livelihoods.
