Director Hwang Dong-hyuk Expresses Disappointment with Korean Reception of ‘Squid Game 2’ Despite Global Success
The Netflix series “Squid Game” Season 2 has been receiving immense global popularity, ranking first on the global TOP10 for two consecutive weeks and securing the top spot in 93 countries. However, the reception in Korea has been extremely divided since its release.
In a recent interview with HeraldPOP at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk expressed his wish for more support from Korean audiences.
Hwang Dong-hyuk thanked viewers worldwide for their interest in season 2, following the success of season 1, saying, “I’m so grateful. I can only express my gratitude,” and added, “While various evaluations are important, in the end, the popularity of a work can be measured by viewing time, and I realized that people around the world love and have been waiting for ‘Squid Game’.”
He continued, “In today’s age, with so much content being released, local content is loved by specific countries or regions, but can a content from one country really rank #1 globally? It’s a miracle,” and said, “The fact that a Korean-language show reached #1 in 93 countries is so miraculous that it makes me wonder if I can ever achieve something like this again.”
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk also reflected on how his life has revolved around “Squid Game” for the past 5 to 6 years, saying, “I didn’t realize how much attention people had on me until I went on the promotional tour, and I felt the interest more than ever.” He acknowledged, “While I feel the weight of the crown, there are also many happy memories, so I feel like I have to endure criticism.”
However, he also said, “What’s disappointing is that even a stray dog gets 50% at home, but the evaluations here in Korea seem the harshest. I came home, and I don’t feel at ease. I just wish there was a little more support,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, “Squid Game” Season 2, for which Director Hwang Dong-hyuk returns as the director, follows the story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who vows revenge and returns to participate in the game, and the fierce battle between him and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). The new season continues with the beginning of the real game.
