Summary:
- Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk lost several teeth due to stress during the first season’s production.
- Hwang initially rejected making a second season, but financial needs and an unfinished story led him back.
- South Korean creators are advocating for better compensation as streaming platforms leave them underpaid.
- The new season will explore themes of division and conflict, with players forced to choose sides in life-or-death games.
- The second season of Squid Game is set to release on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
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The globally popular Korean series Squid Game is returning for a second season, and its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, reveals that the journey hasn’t been easy. Hwang, who previously suffered severe stress leading to tooth loss, spoke candidly about the financial and emotional toll of creating the hit show. Despite initially vowing against a sequel, Hwang admits that monetary needs and unfinished storylines brought him back.
Hwang’s struggles highlight a broader industry issue: inadequate compensation for Korean creators by international streaming platforms. Despite the massive success of Squid Game, Hwang was paid a modest upfront fee, missing out on the estimated £650 million Netflix earned from the series. This has sparked conversations in South Korea about fair compensation and copyright laws.
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Hwang’s decision to bring Squid Game back reflects his commitment to exploring society’s darker issues, from wealth inequality to societal conflicts. The new season dives deeper into these themes, with intense new games and character dynamics that force players to pick sides, exposing the dangers of a divided world. As Hwang hopes for change in the industry, fans eagerly await the second season’s December 26, 2024, release.
Source: BBC
