Director Hwang Dong-hyuk Opens Up About the Challenges of Squid Game

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of the Netflix series Squid Game (오징어 게임), shared his candid thoughts during a recent interview with Variety on December 19, 2024. He revealed that the process of writing, producing, and directing the first season was incredibly challenging, leading him to initially have no plans for a second season. However, he acknowledged that the immense success of Season 1 provided him with the courage and motivation to pursue additional projects in the Squid Game universe. Hwang mentioned that there will be more creative projects utilizing the Squid Game world, with him being more involved in some of them. He also stated that after completing post-production for Season 3, which is set to be released next year, he plans to take a break, admitting, 'I am very tired and exhausted. In some ways, I have to say I am too worn out from Squid Game.' Hwang expressed his desire to escape to a remote island for some time away from the pressures of creating and promoting content, saying, 'I’m thinking about going to a deserted island and having some free time without any calls from Netflix.' Previously, he disclosed that the stress from working on Season 1 caused him to lose six teeth, and during the Season 2 press conference, he mentioned that his dental issues persist, with new pain arising. He is apprehensive about visiting the dentist but anticipates needing more extractions and implants soon. The entire second season of Squid Game will be available for streaming on December 26, 2024.