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A press conference for Netflix's Squid Game 2 was held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on January 9. Yim Si-wan, one of the cast members, shared insights into his experience working with T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) from BigBang.
Talking about the experience, Yim Si-wan began by praising BigBang, calling them "the celebrity of celebrities" during his youth. He reminisced about their iconic status, saying,
"Big Bang was the celebrity among celebrities [...] Even just passing by them and saying, ‘I think he looked at you,’ would become a topic of conversation. Kwanghee (fellow ZE:A teammate) even told me, ‘I think BigBang saw your clothes.’ That's how we filmed T.O.P with a fork."
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Talking about filming with T.O.P, Yim Si-wan described a particular bathroom fight scene in season 2 of Squid Game. The actor spoke about the intense action sequences between the two, revealing the physical toll the scenes took. Both actors trained together at an action school to prepare for the scene.
"Since it was an action scene, we went to action school together to get our chemistry together. Actually, if you think about it, when the actors went into action, that was the biggest opportunity and the moment when you had to go crazy. We both did the action scenes and were really crazy," he noted.
During the intense choreography, T.O.P sustained a rib injury. Yim Si-wan recounted,
"We both did the action scenes and were really crazy, but when we fell while doing the action scenes, we both floated slightly in the air. Then Seung-hyun hyung's ribs broke."
Despite the injury, T.O.P continued filming, and Yim Si-wan shared his respect for his co-star's perseverance.
"It was actually his fighting spirit after getting injured. I also broke my ribs while boxing with Choo Sung Hoon, so I know how much it hurts and hurts. It was so bad I couldn't even breathe. That injury meant we had to stop filming again, but he didn't care and continued filming. I thought to myself, 'A celebrity among celebrities, his career is extraordinary.'." He remarked.
Yim Si-wan also acknowledged the mixed reactions to T.O.P's acting in the series. The Squid Game actor commented,
"I think it's understandable that such evaluations can occur because acting involves subjective evaluations. However, if I were to play Thanos, I would have thought, 'I can't do that well.' " He then also added, "If I had done that rap, I think I would have stopped all my SNS activities and hidden in the mountains by the time this drama came out."
For those unfamiliar, Yim Si-wan is a member of the South Korean boy band ZE:A and its sub-unit ZE:A Five, while T.O.P is a former member of the iconic South Korean boy band BigBang.
Yim Si-wan reflects on Squid Game 2, his role as Myeong-gi, and working with T.O.P
Squid Game season 2 introduced new characters, including Myeong-gi and Thanos. Im Si-wan takes on the role of Myeong-gi, a cryptocurrency YouTuber running the channel Jin-gi Myeong-gi.
After a disastrous investment in cryptocurrency causes massive financial losses for himself and his subscribers, Myeong-gi finds himself pursued by angry debt collectors and betrayed followers. In desperation, he enters the high-stakes survival game.
In Squid Game 2, T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) plays Thanos, a former hip-hop star who once gained fame as the runner-up on a music survival show. His downfall begins when he follows Myeong-gi’s investment advice, losing all his savings. Left financially ruined and desperate, Thanos joins the game in search of redemption.
The tension between Myeong-gi and Thanos runs high throughout the series. Blaming Myeong-gi for his financial ruin, Thanos harbors deep resentment. Their animosity escalates into multiple violent confrontations, culminating in a climactic moment of bloodshed.
During a press conference, Yim Si-wan highlighted the dynamics of his character, describing him as a man shaped by circumstances rather than inherent malice. While he appreciated the feedback about his portrayal, he acknowledged the challenges of playing a morally ambiguous character.
Reflecting on his own acting journey, Yim Si-wan expressed gratitude for the opportunities Squid Game season 2 provided. As a longtime fan of the series, he found the experience of stepping onto the iconic set to be surreal and deeply inspiring.
Yim Si-wan also acknowledged the growing recognition he received after the release of the series. His Instagram followers soared past one million, drawing attention to his portrayal of Myeong-gi. Despite limited screen time, Yim Si-wan emphasized the honor of being part of such a globally celebrated show.
"Even though I knew from the script that I didn't have much screen time, I thought it was an honor and meaning to be part of a drama that I enjoyed so much in Season 1. That's why I didn't feel regretful or greedy about the amount of screen time." Said the idol-turned-actor.
Yim Si-wan praised his co-stars, especially senior actors who supported him on set. He mentioned the camaraderie shared with Kang Ha-neul and Jeon Seok-ho, whom he reunited with after their previous collaboration in Misaeng.
Touching on his future in the series, Yim Si-wan hinted at the possibility of his character's return in season 3 of Squid Game.
"Since he survived, he'll be in season 3 too. (Laughs) And Jun-hee and Myeong-gi's relationship has become entangled and complicated. These things could be resolved, or they could become entangled, and I think those things will be highlighted." Yim Si-wan shared.
He also reflected on the cultural impact of Squid Game, viewing it as a global phenomenon that transcends traditional screen time dynamics.
Lastly, Yim Si-wan shared his perspective on international opportunities, stating that global communication through acting is not limited to Hollywood. His focus remains on exploring diverse roles and projects that align with his growth as an actor.
The second season of Squid Game centers on Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the deadly games seeking revenge. Opposing him is the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), setting the stage for a fierce confrontation.
Squid Game season 2 premiered on Netflix on December 26, 2024, with all episodes now available for streaming. The platform has also announced that the third and final season will be released in 2025.
