“Key Theme of ‘Squid Game 2’ Is?” Sensitive Details Revealed Ahead of Netflix Release

In early December last year, Netflix opened the “Squid Game” Season 2 set to the media. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of the “Squid Game” series, commented at the time that Season 2 incorporates themes of social division and gender conflict, sparking interest.

Plot and New Cast

“Squid Game” Season 2 follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who returns for revenge, and his intense confrontation with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), along with the resumption of the real game.

Returning cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon and Gong Yoo are joined by new cast members Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P), Roh Jae-won, Jo Yuri and Won Ji-an.

Distinguishing Features of Season 2

A More Advanced “OX Voting” System, Expressing Conflict Among Participants

Director Hwang explained, “In Season 2, the ‘OX voting’ system used in Season 1 to let players quit the game has been enhanced. In the first season, participants could choose O or X to decide whether to leave. In Season 2, the system has evolved to give participants a chance to vote after each game on whether to stay or leave, allowing them to decide at each round.”

He added, “Those who choose to stay or leave split into groups based on their O and X choices, which creates divisions and leads to conflicts among them. This mechanism has been embedded into Season 2.”

Division and Conflict… A Theme Reflecting Social Phenomena

Director Hwang remarked, “Nowadays, we see a lot of division. Globally, there are many regional, religious conflicts and wars. Even within our country, we observe generational conflicts, clashes among young generations, gender conflicts as well as regional and class conflicts. Society is drawing too many lines and fostering division.”

He continued, “We see a lot of people labeling groups they don’t belong to as wrong, dividing themselves with O and X, attacking and clashing. As a satire of this, I have woven this voting system and the concept of division through O and X into one of the major themes of Season 2.”

Gender Conflict in Korean Society… “Men in their 20s” vs. “Women in their 20s” Tensions

Gender conflict between “Men in their 20s” and “Women in their 20s” has intensified in Korean society, becoming a significant social issue. The term “Men in their 20s” refers to males in their twenties, while “Women in their 20s” denotes females in that age group, both of which are seen as specific groups within gender-related issues.

This conflict arises from perceived inequalities and discrimination in areas such as employment, military service and welfare policies. Men in their twenties highlight sacrifices and opportunity costs due to mandatory military service and demand fair treatment and policy consideration. Meanwhile, women in their twenties emphasize gender equality, citing discrimination in hiring and everyday life. These differences have amplified mutual dissatisfaction, elevating gender conflicts into a prominent political and social issue.

The political realm has also witnessed an increase in remarks or policies targeting “Men in their 20s” and “Women in their 20s”, which has further fueled tensions. This has led to greater antagonism between the two sides, weakening social cohesion.

Season 1 Success, Global Impact, and Recognition

Season 1, released in 2021, set a Netflix record with 1.65 billion hours watched in 28 days, making it the most-watched show in Netflix history. As of now, it has surpassed 2.2 billion hours, far outpacing English-language hits like “Stranger Things 4” (1.8 billion hours) and “Wednesday” (1.7 billion hours).

The show sparked a global craze, with trends like green tracksuits and dalgona candy, and even led Los Angeles to declare September 17 as Squid Game Day.

At the 2022 Emmy Awards, it made history by winning six trophies, including Best Drama, and became the first non-English series to win major awards. Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon took home Best Actor and Best Actress, with Lee becoming the first Korean actor to win a SAG Award.

Season 2 Release and Expectations

“Squid Game 2” will premiere exclusively on Netflix at 5 PM on December 26, with all 7 episodes released at once. The trailer has already set a record for the most-viewed among Netflix’s 2023 releases, and the show was nominated for Best TV Series at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

With a production budget of 1 billion won, the new season promises enhanced visuals and an expanded storyline, featuring new characters and complex relationships. Netflix has also held world premiere events in major countries to heighten anticipation, as global excitement builds to see if Season 2 can surpass the success of its predecessor.