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On January 9, 2025, the official media handle @kdramahandle reported that Yim Si-wan lauded his co-star Jo Yu-ri for her performance in Squid Game 2.
Yim Si-wan's commendation of Jo Yu-ri underscored the collaborative spirit and mutual respect among the cast of Squid Game season 2. Their portrayals of Lee Myung-gi and Kim Jun-hee contributed significantly to the series' exploration of human nature, morality, and survival.
As the narrative unfolded, their characters' intertwined fates offered a poignant commentary on the consequences of past actions and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
Meanwhile, Yim Si-wan stated that while filming their scenes together, he recognized Jo Yu-ri "as an independent actor."
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"When filming with Jo Yu-ri, I acted while recognizing her as an independent actor rather than as an IZ*ONE member."
Yim Si-wan and Jo Yu-ri's characters in Squid Game 2 face moral dilemmas
Yim Si-wan portrayed Lee Myung-gi, who was designated Player 333, a former YouTuber and cryptocurrency trader. He previously managed a channel called "MG Coin," offering cryptocurrency investment advice. However, his involvement in a crypto scam led to significant financial losses for his followers, resulting in public backlash and personal guilt.
Due to his online cryptocurrency investment advice, other game participants like Thanos (played by BigBang's T.O.P), Nam-gyu (Jae Won-roh), and Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri) faced significant losses, which further forced them to join the deadly game to win the prize money to pay off their respective debts.
Meanwhile, Jo Yu-ri played Kim Jun-hee, known as Player 222, a strong-willed young woman with a complex past. Jun-hee was revealed to be Myung-gi's ex-lover who was also pregnant with his child, adding depth to their interactions within the games. Their shared history introduced a layer of emotional complexity, influencing their decisions and alliances throughout the competition.
As the games progressed, Myung-gi and Jun-hee's relationship was tested amidst the brutal challenges in Squid Game 2. In a climactic moment during the rebellion led by Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), both characters were met with moral dilemmas.
According to @kdramahandle, Yim Si-wan further added that he saw potential in Jo Yu-ri's acting skills while filming for Netflix's popular series. The Summer Strike actor said:
"When I approached her as a person after putting aside all the colored glasses from her previous activities, she was a good person and a good actor. I don't know what it is, but I thought she could do really well as an actor, and that she would do well quickly."
In an interview with Screen Rant on January 7, 2025, Yim Si-wan shared the connection between Myung-gi and Jun-hee in season 2 and how his character was "a bit protective of his girlfriend." He stressed how both their characters contributed to the overarching storyline of Myung-gi and Jun-hee, which would be further explored in season 3.
"I think it did play a part in terms of how my character Myung-gi evolves in the series, because being alone there is completely different from having Jun-hee there too. I don't think Myung-gi, my character, has completely lost his human side yet. He was a bit protective of his girlfriend. That contributed somewhat to my character.
Meanwhile, Squid Game 2 continued Seong Gi-hun's journey from the previous season as he sacrificed his only chance of reuniting with his daughter. Instead of leaving for the U.S. to see his daughter, he returned to Seoul and hunted the game recruiter (Gong Yoo) for two years in hopes of dismantling the sinister games.
A significant twist occurs in Squid Game 2 when the Front Man, Hwang In-ho, re-entered the games as Player 001, adopting the alias Oh Young-il. The Front Man, played by Concrete Utopia actor Lee Byun-hun was a strategic catalyst to prevent Gi-hun's plans to incite a rebellion among the players.
Squid Game 2 is available on Netflix for global streaming along with season 1.
