The cast of Squid Game 2 teases the new characters we’ll meet

The squid game 2 brings back some familiar faces, including The acolyte‘s Lee Jung-hae as Gi-hunaka Player 456, as well as the mysterious Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun. Ma the second season it also introduces a new supporting cast, which is to be expected since, well… almost everyone the other characters died in the first season.

To a recent The squid game 2 on press day, io9 was part of a group of journalists who met some of the new contestants, with a translator attending the interviews.

One thing about the second season that viewers will notice is that this time there is a greater variety of younger players. They may be in their 20s, but that’s still plenty of time for them to make big enough mistakes to lure them into the Squid Game.

“I think that a greater presence of the younger generation gives the message that even the young or the younger generation are not free from financial burden or financial difficulties,” explained Yim Si-wan, who viewers will meet in the second season as Lee Myung-gi aka Player 333.

Myungi is a future king of crypto whose scheme has gone belly up, wiping out all his money, as well as everything invested by others. When he arrives at the Squid Game, he’s not ready to learn that some of the other players are his angry (and now hidden) former clients – but he’s not ready to feel the guilt for his part in the its ruin.

“To me, Myung-gi is someone who easily passes the blame on to others,” Yim said. “So when he joined the game, when he met people who were hostile towards him, he thought that they failed because of his wrong choices, not because of him. So he didn’t take responsibility. And so I think Myung-gi was trying to rationalize or justify what he did.

One of Myung-gi’s instant enemies is Kim Jun-hee, Player 222, played by Jo Yu-ri. Her situation is made even more unfair by the fact that she is his ex-girlfriend, and there is some serious unfinished business between them, even beyond the crypto disaster. Although their characters have drama to share, both Yim and Jo had optimistic things to say about being part of it Squid gamethe large ensemble cast.

“For me as a beginner actress, I took this as a valuable experience,” said Jo. “And to work with such a well-respected (cast), and actors and actresses that I’ve always admired — as someone who’s new to the industry, I’m taking that as a very grateful experience.”

Yim agreed. “I feel the same as my co-actor. our director (Hwang Dong-hyuk) dealing with such a large ensemble cast, I think he didn’t lose control. He always had a firm grip on the cast. And then he tried to bring each character (to life in a way) that they deserve. So I was very happy with the direction.”

He also joked, “I remember the director was really happy when (a) character was killed, because it meant one less burden to worry about.”

Another duo in the second season cast has more acting experience under their belts: Jang Geum-ja, Player 149, and his son, Park Yong-sik, Player 007, played by Kang Ae-sim and Yang Dong-geun, respectively.

The two artists she credits the time spent on set with helping build what comes across on screen as a realistic mother-son relationship. “Stshe was like a real mother to me and taking care of me and showing me that love,” Park said. “And we had six months of filming for the second season and that really helped us in this whole collaborative process. And of course, there was a spoonful of direction that director Hwang did that really added to this relationship that we’ve already built.

Added Kang, “And I think Dong-geun was able to give me really honest and true emotions, so we can work synergistically together.”

As for what motivated his characters to sign up separately for the Squid Game – on the first day, they’re shocked to find each other – it’s mostly Yong-sik’s fault, to be honest.

“I think for my character, she’s really trying to win this money for her son. So this altruism, I think, is really what motivates her, because she just doesn’t want the money for greed,” said Jang. “His thoughtfulness of others, this aspect of himself … is really his strength.”

As for her son, “He really needs money,” Park said. “He is in a terrible situation in which, you know, his organs could be sold (to help cover the money he owes). His life is in danger even outside the games because of the debt that he is in. So he’s really focused on just making that money so he can pay off his debts.”

Meet players 007, 149, 222 and 333 – and many more – when The squid game 2 arrives on Netflix on December 26.

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