Director Hwang Dong-hyuk of Squid Game has opened up about the controversy surrounding the casting of Choi Seung Hyun (T.O.P), who joined the upcoming season despite past legal issues.

During a press conference for Squid Game Season 2 on August 1, Hwang discussed various aspects of the new season, including its changes and challenges. "It’s been over two years of work, and now with the trailer out, it feels real," Hwang said, sharing his excitement but also the pressure surrounding the new release.

He revealed that Squid Game Season 2 will see Lee Jung Jae’s character, Seong Gi-hun, return with a clear goal of ending the game and seeking revenge. "The biggest change is his purpose. In Season 1, he played to win money, but now he’s back for justice," Hwang explained.

Alongside returning stars like Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun, the new season will feature fresh faces such as Lim Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, and T.OP..

However, the casting of Choi Seung Hyun sparked debate, due to his past involvement in a drug scandal. Hwang admitted, "I didn’t expect it to cause such a big controversy."

Hwang defended his decision, saying that the incident with Choi Seung Hyun happened years ago, and the actor had served his sentence. "I thought it was possible for him to make a comeback," Hwang shared. "But after seeing the public reaction, I realized my thinking may have been short-sighted."

Despite the backlash, Hwang emphasized that Choi Seung Hyun auditioned for the role and showed great effort and talent. "It wasn’t an easy decision, but after working closely with him, I believe he’s the best fit for the role," Hwang said.

There were also rumors that Squid Game stars Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun used personal connections to influence the casting. Hwang strongly rejected this, calling the accusation "unfair." He explained, "As a rookie director, I’ve had requests to cast certain people, but I’ve turned down most of them. I cast actors who were the best fit for the role, not based on personal relationships."

Squid Game Season 2 will follow Gi-hun as he returns to the deadly games to seek revenge, facing intense challenges and confrontations with new and familiar characters. The season will drop on Netflix on December 26, with Season 3 expected in 2025.

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Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

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