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On December 26, 2024, Netflix dropped all seven episodes of the much-anticipated second installment of Squid Game. The drama featured a star-studded cast, including Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Im Siwan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, and others.
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Set three years after season 1, Gi-hun won the life-threatening game, and he pledged to put an end to it and catch the mastermind behind it. Subsequently, he entered the game, where he tried to safeguard the lives of the people present and formed a team.
As the drama progressed, each episode featured some unique and peculiar things that could be familiar to the natives of South Korea. However, to the international audience, it might be new and interesting. Here is a curated list of seven things that could have been missed by viewers.
Disclaimer: This article is solely based on the author's opinion.
Korean Shaman, Unnie, Ajusshi, and other things that fans could have missed in Squid Game season 2
1) Korean Shaman
Player 044 was a Korean Shaman in Squid Game 2. The veteran actress Chae Gook-hee portrayed the role. Shamans have been viewed as fortunetellers. In South Korean society, individuals approach them to consult about money, health issues, fulfillment of personal problems, jobs, and their faith. Korean Shaman's primary work included the performance of rituals/ceremonies to connect with Spirits.
Additionally, Shamans could communicate with ancestors, spirits, and nature. They offer and perform a variety of rituals for the people who ask for their protection. Korean projects, such as Exhuma and The Glory, showcase the rituals performed by the Shamans.
2) Usage of Unnie
In the drama Squid Game 2, Kim Young-mi (played by Kim Shi-eun) referred to Hyun-ju (played by Park Sung-hoon) as Unnie. The term "Unnie" is used by females to address someone close to them. It generally referred to an older sister and a female friend.
Subsequently, when Young-mi called Hyun-ju as Unnie, the latter was moved. Hyun-ju wanted to transition to a woman, and hearing the word with emotion and respect from Young-mi was a significant moment for her.
3) Usage of Ajusshi and Oppa
When Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-joon) halted a couple, a girl called him Ajusshi in Squid Game 2. The term has been used by females in South Korea to respectfully address middle-aged men. Subsequently, when the police officer refused to listen to her pleas, she tried to persuade him by calling Oppa.
In South Korea, the term Oppa is usually used by Korean women to refer to an older brother or romantic partner. The term is exclusively used by females for those close to them who provide feelings of safety and protection.
4) Ddakji and Gonggi
In the past, boys and girls generally played the traditional South Korean games Ddakji and Gonggi. However, Dae-ho and Jun-hee were good at Gonggi and Ddakji due to their life experiences. Hence, it was a bit funny to the other members of the group, including Gi-hun, Young-il, and Jung-bae.
It is to be noted that Kang Ha-neul and Jo-yuri played the characters of Dae-ho and Jun-hee, respectively in Squid Game season 2.
5) To You by Shin Hae-chul
The South Korean musician Shin Hae-chul's hit track To You was played as the background music for the scene when Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae)'s team kick-started the Six-Legged Pentathlon game. Popular as the pioneer of Korean experimental rock music, he was referred to as the Devil among the fans. To You was the debut track of Shin Hae-chul's band Infinite Track.
Shin Hae-chul and his band Muhangwedo made their official debut at the MBC Campus Music Festival held in 1988. The group bagged the first prize for their track To You.
6) Thanos
The South Korean musician T.O.P breathed life into the character of Thanos in the second season of Squid Game. Similar to his character, he was a former member of one of the biggest boy bands, BIGBANG, and a rapper by profession.
7) Kang Ha-neul and Im Siwan reunion
The veteran Korean Drama viewers were elated when they saw Kang Ha-neul and Im Siwan's reunion after over a decade. They previously worked together as office interns in the 2014 drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life. The duo came together for the second installment of Squid Game 2.
Netflix has confirmed that Squid Game season 3 is slated to premiere in 2025.
