In a recent interview, Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that he was greatly surprised by the Golden Globe nomination for “Squid Game” Season 2. Although “Squid Game 2” did not win at the awards on January 5, it was noteworthy that the series was nominated before its official release on December 26, which was an unusual move by the Golden Globe judges, who had seen the pre-released version of the show.
In his interview ahead of the ceremony, Hwang Dong-hyuk admitted, “Honestly, when I was writing Season 2, I had already given up on expecting awards for it. I knew the story wouldn’t be fully revealed and concluded yet, and for an award, the full message I wanted to convey had to be clear, which wasn’t the case here.”
He continued, “I was shocked and surprised to be nominated, especially since we hadn’t officially released it yet. Just being among the top six nominees felt like enough of an achievement for me.”
Looking back at the first season, Hwang Dong-hyuk reflected on the challenges, including the pandemic and the diversity controversy that led to a Golden Globe boycott. “Back then, only O Young-soo won an award, and this time, I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend,” he said. “Personally, I don’t have high expectations for winning. If we aim for an award, it might be for Season 3, where I hope the story will be fully concluded.”
Earlier, on January 3, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, actor Lee Jung-jae, and other key figures from “Squid Game” Season 2 departed for Los Angeles, USA, to attend the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
The Golden Globe Awards are considered one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the film and TV industry, alongside the Academy Awards, SAG Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards.
On December 9, the 2025 Golden Globe Awards announced the nominees for its 82nd ceremony. The award ceremony will be held on January 5, 2025, according to local time. Remarkably, “Squid Game” Season 2 earned a nomination for Best Television Series – Drama at the Golden Globe Awards even before its official release. Competing in the same category are Disney+’s “Shōgun”, Netflix’s “The Diplomat”, Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses”, Prime Video’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and Peacock’s “The Day of the Jackal”.
In the case of Season 1, it received nominations in three categories at the 79th Golden Globe Awards in 2022: Best Television Series – Drama, Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Lee Jung-jae) and Best Supporting Actor – Television (O Yeong-su). Of these, O Yeong-su won Best Supporting Actor – Television.
Released globally on December 26th, “Squid Game” Season 2 is already showing signs of massive success. During its premiere week, December 23rd~29th, it garnered a total of 68 million views, easily surpassing the previous record of 50.1 million views held by the American drama “Wednesday” Season 1.
It also set a new record for “first-week viewing hours”. The seven-episode second season, with a total runtime of 7 hours and 10 minutes, achieved 487.6 million viewing hours globally. This surpasses the record of 448.73 million hours set by “Squid Game” Season 1 during its premiere week in late September 2021.
Meanwhile, at a press conference held at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza on December 9, Netflix and the “Squid Game 2” team shared insights about the upcoming season, which will officially premiere on December 26.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who previously revealed that the production of Season 1 cost him six to seven teeth, humorously remarked, “I might lose two more teeth this time.” He added, “I want to create something that leaves a lasting impact.”
Season 2 expands on the social commentary introduced in Season 1, delving into themes like voting and cryptocurrency. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk noted that voting serves as a central motif, reflecting both the narrative and global socio-political dynamics. In this season, players can choose to leave the deadly game while keeping their accumulated money—a nod to “moderate ambition.”
However, as the trailer hints, human greed remains insatiable, driving participants to exclaim, “One more round!”
Hwang Dong-hyuk connected this to real-world scenarios, saying, “The voting process in ‘Squid Game’ mirrors current global events like the U.S. presidential election. It’s fascinating to see the voting process in ‘Squid Game 2’ in relation to the current world situations”.
The gap between Seasons 1 and 2 coincides with a pandemic-stricken world that has accelerated wealth disparity and class conflict. Hwang Dong-hyuk highlighted how phenomena like the cryptocurrency boom have deepened economic divides and created a generation burdened by unmanageable debt. As a result, “Squid Game 2” introduces younger characters driven to join the deadly competition after financial ruin.
Hwang Dong-hyuk explained, “The obsession with coins led to concentrated wealth and blocked upward mobility. This season portrays the struggles of a younger generation that has given up on earning money through labor.”
Ultimately, the director hopes the series prompts self-reflection. “The participants chasing the 45.6 billion won (approx 31.9 million USD) prize mirror the reality of many. The game and the real world both depict division and hostility. I hope this series provides an opportunity to reflect on our society.”
