'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Singer-actor Yim Si-wan and former IZ*ONE member Jo Yu-ri have been cast in Netflix’s Squid Game season 2, where they will play ex-lovers, adding an intriguing twist to the upcoming season.
On November 13, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk shared details about Yim Si-wan’s character at a press conference at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, as reported by the media outlet The Korea Times. Meanwhile, on November 12, The Hollywood Reporter reported information about Jo Yu-ri’s role, which revealed that Yu-ri and Si-wan's characters are ex-lovers.
This announcement has sparked excitement among fans, who are eager to see how their complex relationship will unfold in the high-stakes survival setting of the series. Subsequently, social media has been flooded with reactions, with many expressing eagerness to see the ex-lovers' dynamic play out in the survival game. One fan wrote on X,
Trending
"OOOO this is gonna be a fun plotline."
Meanwhile, others also took to X to express their excitement.
"THINGS ABOUT TO BE SOO GOOD YURI WITH ONE OF MY FAV K-ACTOR," a fan posted.
"Them being the only two to make s2 worth watching at this point," shared an X user.
"OH???? THIS IS GOING TO EAT," one netizen wrote.
"Oh my two faves in the cast are about to have so many scenes together" added another fan.
Furthermore, fans have expressed curiosity about how their relationship will affect the game. Many have speculated whether the two will betray each other or find a way to reconcile.
"I meed yuri to kill him in the movie so that thing will get interesting but there is also a possibility he kill yuri instead lmao. Or another possibility, they will reconcile lmao," one X user anticipated.
"I know 100% that they will betray each other in the most shocking way," shared a netizen.
"They are wearing badges of different colours. So they are not from the same team. This will be so interesting to watch. I love Yim Si-wan's acting," an individual commented.
"I need their storyline to leave a great impact in the show," added a fan.
Yim Si-wan and Jo Yu-ri bring new twists to Squid Game season 2 with cryptocurrency-driven characters
According to South Korean media outlet SPOTV News' report dated November 13, 2024, Si-wan joins Squid Game season 2 as Myeong-gi, a YouTuber who hosts cryptocurrency investment broadcasts. After a poor investment causes massive losses for both himself and his followers, Myeong-gi finds himself pursued by debt collectors and subscribers. Desperate, he ultimately enters the game.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on November 12, the director of both seasons of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, revealed more about the new season’s characters. Jo Yu-ri plays a young woman who is shocked to find her ex-boyfriend, Myeong-gi, played by Yim Si-wan, also in the game.
In the released stills of Netflix's Squid Game season 2, both the actors appear wearing different badges, making the audience wonder about their dynamic. This dynamic reflects Hwang’s focus on fresh storytelling for Squid Game's season 2, as per the interview.
He further explained his reasons for including younger players in the new storyline.
"We didn’t have that many young people in the game in season one because when I was first working on the script, there weren’t reasons for the younger generation to be so hugely indebted,” Hwang Dong-hyuk explained.
Hwang further added:
“However, during the pandemic, there was this huge cryptocurrency craze that led to so many young people getting neck deep in debt and driven into poverty.”
Both media outlets, The Hollywood Reporter and The Korean Times, have confirmed that Jo and Yim’s characters are among several others with pre-existing connections in Squid Game's season 2. Each enters the game without knowing the other is also there. According to Hwang, this twist is designed to heighten the entertainment for viewers watching the game unfold.
Squid Game season 1 debuted in September 2021, introducing 456 players selected from South Korea's streets. They were taken to a secluded island to compete in childhood games that initially seemed innocent. However, as the ultimate prize awaited the winner, the games quickly turned deadly, with only one participant surviving to claim the reward.
In season 2 of Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae reprises his role as Gi Hun, who returns to the game three years later, after abandoning his plans to move to the U.S. The stakes are higher than ever this time, with 45.6 billion KRW on the line, as Gi Hun faces new players and even more dangerous challenges.
Yim Si-wan is a South Korean actor and singer known for his work in television dramas and films. He first rose to fame as a member of the boy group ZE:A. Afterward, he transitioned into acting and quickly gained recognition.
Yim starred in the critically acclaimed drama Misaeng (2014), followed by The King in Love (2017), Strangers from Hell (2019), Run On (2020-2021), and Summer Strike (2022).
Meanwhile, Jo Yu-ri is a South Korean singer and actress, best known for her career as a member of the girl group IZ*ONE. After the group disbanded in 2021, she pursued a solo music career with her debut single album Glassy. She also ventures into acting, with notable roles in dramas like Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) and Mimicus (2022).
Squid Game season 2 will premiere exclusively on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
