Hwang Dong-hyuk "Impeachment Support and Opposition Situation Creepy Like 'Ojingeo Game'"

Director Hwang's First Media Interview After Season 2 Release
"I Wanted to Raise Questions About Representative Democracy"

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directed "Squid Game," said, "'Squid Game' Season 2 closely resembles the current situation where opinions are sharply divided between support and opposition to the president's impeachment, to a chilling degree."

On the 3rd, Hwang held his first press interview after the release of Season 2 in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Regarding the frequent scenes in Season 2 where participants vote on whether to continue the game, he explained, "I believe representative democracy is facing a crisis," adding, "I wanted to question whether this system, where everything is decided by majority vote in one go, is truly appropriate, and if there are any alternatives."

He continued, "Even now, at places like the presidential residence, people gather divided between support and opposition to the impeachment, and the police have drawn lines to prevent fights," he added.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk [Photo by Netflix]

He also mentioned the personality change of the main character Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae). In Season 1, he was an ordinary and kind-hearted common man, but in Season 2, he transforms into a serious figure with a strong sense of purpose.

Hwang said this was intentional, stating, "I wanted to depict someone who still believes in people and is determined to change the world, but who gradually breaks down as they clash with reality."

In fact, Gi-hun re-enters the game with the goal of stopping it and saving as many people as possible. However, as he continues to lose in majority vote decisions, he eventually tries to achieve his goal even if it means sacrificing some.

Hwang explained, "Gi-hun becomes increasingly obsessed with ending the game and gradually loses the beliefs and values he originally held," adding, "In the end, he becomes corrupted and broken, saying, 'Even if it requires small sacrifices, this game must be ended here.'"

He said, "This was also the goal of Hwang In-ho (played by Lee Byung-hun), the Front Man who participated in the game alongside Gi-hun in disguise," and predicted, "The changing Gi-hun will continue to appear in Season 3."