Park Gyu-young is Lee Jung-jae’s Daughter in “Squid Game”? Hid Casting from Parents, Reduced Screentime Rumors
Actress Park Gyu-young, who recently appeared as a guard who tried to earn money to find her young daughter in “Squid Game 2”, recently had an interview at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Here, the actress shared various anecdotes behind the filming of “Squid Game 2” and raises anticipation for the 3rd season.
During the interview, Park Gyu-young confessed that she hid her appearance in “Squid Game 2” from everyone around her for about a year and a half after. Even when questioned by friends, she deflected with responses like “I don’t know” or “Just wait a bit longer.” She even kept the secret from her parents and couldn’t discuss the script with fellow agency actor Jung Ho-yeon, who starred in Season 1.
After it was revealed that Park’s character, “Kang No-eul,” is a defector from North Korea, viewers speculated about her connection to Jung Ho-yeon’s character, Kang Sae-byeok, who had a similar background in Season 1.
Addressing the theories, Park Gyu-young said, “There were so many speculations. Before Season 2 premiered, one Netflix-related discussion even asked, ‘Is Park Gyu-young Lee Jung-jae’s daughter?’ I found these theories so entertaining. It shows how much viewers are engaged and curious, and I’m grateful for that.”
Given Netflix’s strict confidentiality protocols, the actress was careful not to reveal any spoilers during the interview, often laughing nervously.
When asked about the script, Park shared, “I’ve read all of Season 2. Watching how the script transformed into visuals gave me new insights as a viewer. I also know my involvement in Season 3, up to a certain point.”
As for what viewers can expect, she confidently stated, “All the questions and speculations will be addressed in a satisfying way. I’m confident viewers will be pleased. Please continue showing your interest and support!”
Reflecting on the success of “Squid Game 2”, Park Gyu-young also expressed, “I’m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had with Netflix, but this level of success is completely new to me. It feels surreal“.
“The volume of articles is extraordinary”, she said, adding, “The promotional events were exciting and well-prepared, and having the chance to engage with international media was a unique experience.”
According to the actress, she went through two auditions to join “Squid Game 2”, and auditions was conducted with selected excerpts from the script.
Regarding this, Park Gyu-young said, “Being a part of the ;Squid Game’ series, which is beloved worldwide, is a rare opportunity for any actor. I was just grateful to even audition”. She also expressed how the series could become a major turning point in her career as she enters her 30s.
Finally, in terms of rumors about her screentime being reduced, the actress stated, “None of my scenes were removed. Everything went as planned. ‘Squid Game 2’ is an ensemble piece, so I didn’t focus much on screen time but rather on contributing to the overall story.”
