[Interview] 'Devil's Plan 2' Director Jung Jongyeon: "Hidden Reward Timing? Jung Hyunkyu Asked and Got Approval"

Winner: "No Plans for Activities... Will Reflect on Myself"

On the 27th, I met with PD Jung Jongyeon at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and discussed the controversy surrounding the program and future plans. Netflix

"I approached it with more sincerity than anyone, but through the process, I realized that I am clumsy and imperfect. I will take this as a lesson and strive to become a better person." (Jung Hyunkyu)

The essence of survival reality shows is 'competition for survival.' In order to win, contestants engage in politics, employ 'know yourself and your enemy' strategies, and use all their senses to survive in the game.

Director Jung Jongyeon has led the establishment of deduction and escape reality shows in Korea with productions such as 'The Genius' (2013-2014), 'Society Game' (2016), and 'Great Escape' (2018-2021). He presented 'Devil's Plan: Death Room' (hereafter 'Devil's Plan 2') through Netflix. 'Devil's Plan 2' is a brain survival reality show where players from various professions live together for seven days and compete to determine the best brain. The final episode (episode 12) aired on May 20, bringing the show to a close. The final winner was Jung Hyunkyu, who received a prize of 380 million won.

Immediately after the show ended, it became the center of controversy. There was strong criticism regarding Jung Hyunkyu's attitude during his victory, the moment when he chose to yield by joining hands with singer Kyuhyun and actress Yoon Sohee, and the game structure that made it difficult for the defeated Prison-dong players to win.

Despite the controversy, the program generated significant buzz. According to Good Data Corporation's Fundex, 'Devil's Plan 2' ranked first in non-drama buzz for the fourth week of May, with five cast members sweeping the top five spots for most talked-about personalities.

On the 27th, at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, I met with Director Jung and Jung Hyunkyu to discuss the controversy surrounding the program and their future plans.

There was controversy over the scene in the decisive 'Hidden Stage' round, where Jung Hyunkyu used tracing paper to solve a problem. Regarding this, Director Jung said, "The production team was also caught off guard. At the time, we judged that it would not have a significant impact on the outcome of the game, so we did not want to disrupt the flow." He added, "However, if viewers felt it was unfair, I also wondered whether we should have prohibited it if both options were allowed."

Regarding the controversy over the Hidden Stage rewards, he said, "Contestants were able to ask questions during the pre-interview session, and Jung Hyunkyu did inquire about using tracing paper during that process, to which we said 'okay.' It is indeed the production team's fault that we did not clearly announce this in advance," he continued. "I do not remember whether Choi Hyunjun from Prison-dong had an interview after obtaining a piece in the Hidden Stage, but I am aware that this is a sensitive issue and am taking the feedback seriously."

Regarding the production team's intervention in Son Eunyeu's situation during the 'Unknown' game, he explained, "It was before the game started, and we judged that it was not appropriate to resolve the situation with a lie." He added, "The reward system for winning the Prison Match was insufficient, and the Hidden Stage rewards were excessive. I fully empathize with the feedback on balance and will definitely work to improve it in the future."

In survival reality shows, the contestants themselves function as content, making their selection extremely important. Regarding the criteria for selecting contestants, Director Jung said, "I wanted new faces and people with diverse personalities. Jung Hyunkyu, Choi Hyunjun, and Kim Harin all felt like fresh players who had not been seen in previous seasons or other programs, so I cast them." He added, "Although I referred to the experience of season 1, when planning season 3, I want to tell a different story. Rather than focusing on the system, I want to highlight the emergence of new characters and cast players with diverse personalities and colors to present a new narrative."

He expressed regret over the public criticism of individual contestants. Director Jung said, "When Jung Hyunkyu first appeared, he said, 'I want to play like a devil, just like the name Devil's Plan.' If excessive criticism is directed at the contestants' gameplay, I believe the responsibility lies with me. It pains me to see individual contestants being criticized. I would appreciate it if feedback could be directed toward me instead."

On the 27th, at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, I met with the winner Hyun Kyu Jung to discuss the controversy surrounding the program and future plans. Netflix

When asked whether he could not foresee the controversy despite operating a system that allowed monitoring all contestants' movements and conversations, he replied, "I anticipated that there could be controversy, but I did not expect such an explosive reaction." He emphasized, "During editing, I had to consider how A's actions affected B, and I tried not to over-edit. I believe I included only the essential parts."

Regarding the disappointment among fans over the elimination of Go player Lee Sedol, he said, "We put a lot of effort into casting him, and expectations were high. However, I had no intention of giving special protection or favor to anyone. All players were equal, and the result ultimately came down to a very fine margin."

On the topic of political gameplay and his game design philosophy, Director Jung said, "I believe the essence of survival is a 'game of wits.' It's not just about solving quizzes, but also about persuading people, showing charm, and exercising political skills -- all senses are involved in the game." He continued, "Political elements cannot be excluded, and it is entirely possible to design a structure where the underdog can win." He added, "Creating simple yet fun games is the most difficult. My goal is to make games with rules that are easy to understand and can be explained with a short video."

Jung Hyunkyu, the winner of season 2, said, "Filming ended in September last year. I was clumsy and played in a forceful way. I realized that I may have made people uncomfortable." He continued, "I expected some backlash, but actually seeing the reactions was tough, and I am using this as an opportunity for growth."

The prize money was awarded to Jung Hyunkyu after the final match. Regarding his plans for the prize money, he said, "I plan to eat good food with the cast, go on trips to nice places, and donate a certain amount. I have no plans to pursue a career in entertainment or broadcasting, and for now, I want to rest, reflect, and heal."

Director Jung said the following about season 3: "I am planning to try a new format. I am considering various ideas, such as an asymmetric structure, competition between two alliances, and new rules. However, it has not yet been decided whether we will continue to use the name 'Devil's Plan.' Production will continue, and I may raise a smart junior PD and take on a supervising role. If possible, I also plan to prepare a 'Great Escape'-type program. There will be an opportunity to share more concrete details soon."