‘Squid Game’_ Lee Jung-Jae & Cast React To Wild Episode 7 Ending
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Oh my goodness, congrats first of all on the Gold Globe nomination before the season's even out.
00:05How does that feel and what does that mean to you?
00:30Well, I feel over the moon and because season one was so
00:59successful there is a lot of fans waiting for season two but they also
01:05ask themselves like would season two beat season one because you always talk
01:08about the sophomore slump but because our show has been nominated for the
01:13Golden Globe Globes they probably know now that season two is probably as good
01:18as season one if not better. Well I can confirm I've seen season two I loved it
01:23I thought it was amazing you both did such a great job. Without sharing any
01:28spoilers can you tease how season two is going to be even more exciting than
01:33season one for fans?
01:36So one thing I can tell you is that in season one the core of the story was held by the old man this time around it's going to be the friend.
01:57And how do you think you would both personally do if you were thrown into
02:02Squid Game and you had to survive or try to survive?
02:05No. First game I die.
02:12And what about you?
02:14I think I'd be too nervous because this is life or death situation I'm gonna do pretty bad.
02:24Yeah I would not do well I would I would probably die in the first game as well
02:28or I would try to run away one of those two.
02:31How is the series and new season a commentary on real-life issues that many face today?
03:24Season two really sheds light on a number of different social issues and it's different for every episode like with episode one it'll talk about a certain issue and with episode two it'll be a commentary on a different social issue so it doesn't repeat itself it's going to be new with every episode so if you watch all the episodes you will feel like how the director did an amazing job you know putting all those different issues into the storyline and the characters as well so you will enjoy the entire series.
03:54Now with how things ended in episode seven how do you how did both of you react when you saw what happened with the rebellion and how do you think fans are going to react after seeing that episode because that episode was it was it was pretty crazy?
04:24From Ki-Hoon's point of view, what he really wants to achieve is to stop this game as soon as possible.
04:33That's why he wants to save as many people as possible.
04:37So even in the first game, Red Light, Green Light, he was trying to save as many people as possible.
04:45But as he continued to play the game, he realized that he had to stop this game as soon as possible and that's how episode seven came to be.
04:59So I'd be grateful if you could watch and enjoy whether Ki-Hoon will be able to stop this game or not.
05:15So Ki-Hoon's motivation all throughout the season was to end the game and make it up make it out alive with all the people and since beginning with the Red Light, Green Light game, he tried to tell them the strategies and to make sure that more people can survive and he tried to do that all along but in episode seven he becomes even more determined to put a stop to this game because he can no longer you know help people just survive the different rounds.
05:40So whether he can make it out alive with a lot of people, you will have to watch until the very end to find out.
05:48So obviously season one was a smash hit, everyone is obsessed with this show.
05:52Did you feel any pressure or was it mostly excitement coming in for season two, both of you?
06:01I was very happy to join season two again.
06:40So I actually felt a lot of pressure before going into production.
07:00I want to show a new facet of Ki-Hoon in season two, how can I carry out a very impactful performance,
07:06how can I beat season one.
07:08So all of these questions came to me as pressure but when I set foot on the set I became very focused on you know portraying my character and I was very busy for the for like one year trying to carry out and convey my character.
07:22So I kind of forgot about that pressure but now that I'm promoting and I'm like doing interviews with you guys I feel like that pressure is coming back to me that people enjoy it and are people going to enjoy it when it's out.
07:35First off, congrats on the Golden Globe nomination before the season's even out, how does that feel for both of you?
07:49It's a great honor and I feel very grateful.
08:06So one of my projects being nominated for the Golden Globe, it feels like surreal so I'm just like what's happening?
08:17Now your characters have an interesting dynamic, can you talk a bit about what fans can expect to see with you in season two between the both of you?
08:36I think it's going to be a bit different for both of you because you're both ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends but I don't think it's going to be the same for Myung Gi because he's still a programmer.
08:53So I think there's going to be a lot of differences between you two as a couple.
09:05So I think our dynamic or relationship has a lot of things to talk about from the fans of course and then our characters were introduced as a past relationship but for my character Myung Gi I don't think he would consider this relationship completely broken off so maybe he still has some lingering feelings and he may believe that this relationship is still ongoing so that's the point that we can watch from the show.
09:35I was going to say I know you mentioned the fans, the fans really are buzzing about both of you playing exes, were you expecting that kind of reaction from the fans?
10:06Yes, I found the reaction from fans very funny. When our photos were first released some fans were speculating that we were like siblings but now they know that we're ex-boyfriends and girlfriends so I find it very funny.
10:23Very different dynamic than siblings.
10:29Now I was also going to say, were you fans of the first season and what was it like getting to work with Lee Jung Jae?
10:35I was a huge fan of Lee Jung Jae and I was always seeing him from big screens or TV and then now that I got to work with him on the set it was amazing.
10:58I think I can say that I was a huge fan of season 1.
11:11I was also a huge fan of Lee Jung Jae so I asked him to treat me to a meal and we met up and talked about a lot of things.
11:41First off, congrats on the Golden Globe nomination. The season's not even out yet, how does this feel?
12:12I was quite surprised to be honest because even for the show, it hasn't even launched yet and especially it being a series, I didn't think that the voters would take their time to watch each episode and cast their votes so we got the news actually after the Seoul premiere so we were able to have some champagne and celebrate.
12:32Well it's so amazing, this season, oh my gosh, I was on the edge of my seat when I was watching it and your character is now getting into the game, what was it like exploring that and playing that this season?
12:45When I first read the script, I thought that this was something that I had to do well and that it would have a huge impact on the viewers.
13:02I had a lot of fun filming it and the only thing that was difficult was that I had to play the role of a frontman and there was a character called Hwang In Ho who actually lived his life and there was a character called Young Il who I created by mixing with other people.
13:29I remember that it was very difficult to match the lines of my emotions, eyes, and expressions that I had to go back and forth from time to time.
13:59It was also a very interesting and intriguing challenge for me as an actor.
14:05The biggest challenge was that there are three aspects, so the first aspect being himself as the frontman, the second one being having to portray him as In Ho which is his actual self, and then thirdly the fake persona of Young Il that he poses when he's within the games.
14:20As to how I'm going to portray each of those different aspects of the character in terms of the emotions and the way I use my eyes and glances and just to what degree of each of those elements we portray on screen, that was the biggest challenge as well as something that I enjoyed greatly doing.
14:38Episode 7 leaves off in a crazy place. How did you know that this is where you wanted everything to go for the people in Squid Game this season?
14:50I wrote the story in one go, but I thought it would be too long to make it into a single season.
15:00I thought that the moment when In Ho goes back to being the frontman and all of Ki Hoon's efforts go down the drain to stop the game and his closest friend is killed by the frontman would be the best ending for the season 2.
15:21I actually wrote seasons 2 and 3 as a continued story, but it became too long, so I thought the number of episodes that it goes into, it'd be hard to make it into a single season.
15:51At the end of episode 7, due to In Ho's betrayal, all of Ki Hoon's hard efforts go to failure and he sees his best friend die by frontman in front of his eyes.
16:05So I thought that would be just the right time to end the second season because Ki Hoon goes through yet another character arc in the third season.
16:14And so the Ki Hoon that you'll get in the second season and third season are slightly different, which is why I thought that would be the adequate time for me to end.
16:22Now, can you share about how the series is a bit of a commentary on the real-life issues that so many face today?
16:29The most important thing I made in season 2 is the vote.
16:35In season 1, the OX vote was the first thing that came out, but this time, I strengthened it a bit so that after each game is over, we can decide whether to continue the game or not by voting.
16:52The most important thing in democracy is the act of voting.
17:00We need to think about what the leaders chosen by voting in the world look like.
17:10And I think you'll have a chance to think about how important it is for us to vote and how precious it is to make good choices through this drama.
17:21And I hope that through this skit game, people will be able to think about the meaning of voting in the current political crisis in Korea.
17:38One of the most important elements that I've added this time around is the element of voting.
17:44You did get a round of votes towards the earlier part of season 1 as well.
17:49But this time around, I put it in as a plot device after each round and strengthened it a little bit.
17:56And we say that voting is the heart of democracy.
17:59And I think it is time that we need to reflect on how the world currently is when it is led by leaders that we have voted to their positions.
18:09I hope that it serves as an opportunity for us to reflect on that.
18:13And also in terms of the political crisis that currently Korea is going through,
18:18I think and hope that Skit Game will serve as yet another opportunity for us to reflect on what does it truly mean to vote your leaders and where does that take us.
18:29First of all, congrats on the Golden Globe nomination before the show's even out. How does that feel?
18:43I really thought, is this a reality? How can this be? I'm like, did the judges even see the show yet? It's not out yet. I know that they saw it. But we were like, did Netflix bribe them?
19:08Well, I saw it and I thought it was really great. So I think it's well deserved.
19:12Now let's talk about your dynamic. You obviously play mother and son in this season two.
19:17Can you talk a bit about your characters and what fans can expect to see with both of you?
19:42I would say that my character is extremely resourceful. She loves her, not only her son, but all the people around her that are playing the game.
19:53And she's able to harness these people and encompass them in a really warm way.
19:57And in a way, she reflects this traditional role of K-mom, a Korean mom.
20:12I couldn't show my true self in the Squid Game because of my mom.
20:17Because of my mom, I'm like a puppy that breaks everything.
20:23Why are you blaming me?
20:25I did.
20:42Now, what did you think of season one? Were you fans? And what was it like working with Lee Jung Jae?
21:12When I watched season one of Squid Game, I was really taken by how a project like this could come out of Korea.
21:31And I was encaptured by director Hwang's writing and his ability to craft story.
21:38In terms of working with actor Lee Jung Jae, he has this presence, this charisma about him that makes you realize he really is a world star.
22:08I really thought that it felt like I was riding this immense wave and surfing through it and kind of seeing the whole process in front of me.
22:18I had newfound respect for Lee Jung Jae and what he was able to do.
22:24Now, can you talk about how the series and new season is a commentary on real-life issues that so many face?
22:38Because there is some political turmoil that is happening in Korea currently, I do think that it is uncanny that there are these links between the story itself and things happening all over the world.
23:00Me?
23:03Well, I do reflect on the social aspect of it, but I also think that literature and art are so beautiful.
23:17It's hard to put it into words.
23:19There is a lot of fighting going on out there, but we try to...
23:29Right?
23:31We try to solve it.
23:33We try to kill, abuse, and curse.
23:39It's hard, but...
23:41Can you explain this?
23:43Yes, I'll try.
23:47I think that, of course, shows like this are a reflection of our own society.
23:53But I think that literature and art, while there is only strife and fighting going on in the external world, we are able to have a catharsis in the show itself because we're able to swear and fight and cry and express some of those emotions that might be pent up.
24:13Definitely.
24:16This season was full of shocking moments.
24:18What do you think will leave the fans most shocked?
24:20I feel like episode 7, I was like, oh my gosh, when I watched.
24:26Every episode has that.
24:29Every episode has those shocking moments.
24:31We watched episode 1 on a big screen on the day of the first production announcement in Korea.
24:41From the last scene of episode 1, it was shocking.
24:45I think that every episode has those shocking moments.
24:58in Korea, we watched the pilot episode on a big screen,
25:03kind of like a movie theater.
25:05And I think everyone was really blown away,
25:07even by the last scene in the first episode.