[Interview] 'Ojingeo Game 2' Yang Dong-geun "Biggest Challenge Was Tears and Mother... Suffered Until Filming"

Netflix 'Squid Game 2' Yongsik Role
Debuted in 1987, Nearly 40 Years as an Actor
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Actor Yang Dong-geun. Provided by Netflix

Actor Yang Dong-geun (46) recently traveled to the United States to promote the Netflix series "Squid Game" Season 2 (hereafter "Squid Game 2"). Having debuted in 1987 with the KBS drama "Top Lee," he has been an actor for nearly 40 years, but this was his first time being invited to the U.S. He gave interviews to local media in Los Angeles (LA), where the headquarters are located, and enjoyed parties with fellow actors at night. He said, "It feels like a party every day, and I'm happy and grateful."

"Squid Game" Season 1 was released in 2021 and recorded a total of 265.2 million views and 2.252 billion cumulative viewing hours, ranking first among all Netflix content. It achieved worldwide success. After the simultaneous production of Seasons 2 and 3 was confirmed, attention turned to the casting of actors. Yang Dong-geun plays Park Yong-sik, who participates in the game because he cannot handle his gambling debts. His mother, Jang Geum-ja (played by Kang Ae-sim), joins the game to repay her son's debt, and the mother and son face challenges together to survive.

Meeting Yang Dong-geun at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he recalled, "I received a call from the company offering the role. They contacted me repeatedly whenever I almost forgot, and we had several meetings. Many discussions took place before it was finalized." The success of Season 1 was a burden. He said, "I was happy to be cast, but it felt like a huge mountain was in front of me that I had to overcome." He added, "When people around me tried to pop champagne, I told myself, 'We won't know until it's released,' and kept myself grounded."

Yang Dong-geun cited "tearful acting" and "mother" as the biggest challenges in "Squid Game 2." He said, "Until now, if there was a crying scene in the script, I would avoid it, but this work had crying scenes, and they were quite difficult. Moreover, it was not easy to bring out such emotions in the relationship with the mother. It was an emotion I did not want to face. I agonized and worried in my lodging until the day before filming that scene."

Still from 'Ojingeo Game 2'. Provided by Netflix

Contrary to his complaints, Yang Dong-geun delicately portrayed Yong-sik. Overseas viewers are showing interest by calling the Park Yong-sik and mother duo a "duo." Yang Dong-geun laughed, saying, "Maybe because we look like a real mother and son." He added, "I built up Yong-sik little by little while talking with senior actress Kang Ae-sim, who played the mother, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk."

Yang Dong-geun is also a hip-hop artist. Under the stage name "YDG," he released albums such as "Golmokgil" and "Tanti," gaining popularity. When asked if he gave advice on acting to Top (real name Choi Seung-hyun), who appeared as a rapper in the drama, he replied, "I can't give advice because I am both an actor and a rapper." He continued, "Talking about acting is risky. It could be disrespectful. Having debuted at age 9 and seen various seniors, I am more cautious. I use honorifics with juniors. I am afraid to give advice as a senior."

Seasons 2 and 3 of "Squid Game" were filmed simultaneously, taking more than six months. As a father of three children, Yang Dong-geun said, "I felt sorry for my wife." He explained, "During the filming period, I stayed in lodging near the set, so my wife raised the three children alone. Our house is like a battlefield. Dishes and laundry pile up like mountains every day. After finishing filming, I rushed home, but my wife's expression was not good. I immediately switched to housework mode, and I will have to take charge of the dishes and laundry from now on." When asked about his wife's reaction to "Squid Game 2," he laughed and said, "She is indifferent."

Actor Yang Dong-geun. Provided by Netflix

On the day of the interview (the 6th, Korean time), the Golden Globe Awards were taking place in the U.S. "Squid Game 2" was also nominated. Yang Dong-geun laughed, saying, "I hope it doesn't win." He then expressed anticipation for Season 3.

"I was amazed after watching the final scene of Season 2. I am confident about Season 3. If Season 3 had been released at the Golden Globes and nominated, it might have won. It's a pity. I want to see it soon, and please look forward to Yong-sik's performance."