As Artist United prepares to merge with Artist Company early next year, Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2 is receiving rave reviews from domestic and international media, heightening anticipation.
In particular, lead actor Lee Jung-jae's explosive acting skills have drawn overwhelming praise, placing him at the center of acclaim. Lee Jung-jae is the largest shareholder of Artist United and will become the representative actor after the merger.
Netflix recently previewed parts of Season 2 to domestic and international media and critics ahead of its official release on the 26th. Entertainment experts who saw the series before the public consistently gave positive evaluations, predicting that both the artistic quality and commercial success will surpass the previous season.
Previously, Season 1 sparked a global phenomenon and set the highest revenue record in Netflix history. The announcement of Season 2, which was not originally planned by the production team, raised expectations but also some concerns.
However, the enthusiastic response from critics who previewed Season 2 has dispelled these worries. Especially, actor Lee Jung-jae, who led the drama with immersive acting in Season 1, is praised for perfectly portraying a more complex and profound character this season, powerfully conveying the message the work intends to deliver.
Proving this, Season 2 achieved the remarkable feat of being nominated for Best TV Drama at the Golden Globe Awards even before its release. In 2022, Lee Jung-jae made history as a Korean actor by winning the Best Actor award at the Emmys for Season 1. He was also nominated for the Golden Globes that same year. Although this season is only nominated for Best Drama, attention is focused on whether Season 2 and Lee Jung-jae will continue their global award success.
Meanwhile, the merger between Artist Company, led by actor Lee Jung-jae, and Artist United, which has production and distribution capabilities, is signaling a new change in the entertainment industry. Coupled with the successful response to "Squid Game" Season 2 starring Lee Jung-jae, the merger of the two companies is expected to exert even stronger influence in the domestic and international content markets.
This year, Artist United steadily expanded its production and distribution capabilities through distributing films such as "She Died" and "1 Win" and co-producing the drama "Salon de Holmes," establishing a stable growth engine based on revitalizing content production and distribution. Recently, with the appointment of CEO Hwang Kyung-joo, the company has strengthened its organizational structure and completed preparations to enhance competitiveness in the global content market.
With stable revenue from the management sector combined with an expanded production and distribution network, the two companies are expected to strengthen their industry position along with improved performance. Upon completion of the merger, a new "giant company" is anticipated to emerge in the entertainment industry.
At the extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on the 13th to discuss the merger agenda, the merger proposal was approved, and after creditor objections and stock purchase claim procedures, the merger is scheduled to be finalized on the 17th.
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