Squid Game's Jo Yu-ri & Im Si-wan Tell All About Their Characters' Complicated Reunion

Jo Yu-ri & Im Si-wan have joined the ranks for Squid GameSeason 2. Yu-ri stars in the second installment as Kim Jun-hee (Player 222), an orphan who gets entangled in a relationship with a controversial YouTuber. That controversial YouTuber is Si-wan's Lee Myung-gi, a once-popular creator who had his online empire fall into shambles when his once-successful cryptocurrency side hustle resulted in fraud. Both Jun-hee and Myung-gi, who had broken up, find themselves reconnected in the Squid Games.

Squid Game represents the latest chapter in Yu-ri's limited filmography. The 23-year-old talent is best known for being a pop star, as she is a former member of South Korean-Japanese girl group Iz*One. While Si-wan is also a singer, he is prominently known for his work on screen, as he has been acting since 2010 and is best known for his roles in South Korean films like The Attorney and Road to Boston.

In celebration of Squid Game Season 2's premiere on Netflix, ScreenRant spoke with Yu-right and Si-wan to discuss their Squid Game's characters' relationship before the games, how Myung-gi's motives inside the games change once he encounters Jun-hee on the inside, and how they developed their on-screen dynamic beyond Hwang Dong-hyuk's script.

Answers were given in Korean and translated into English during the interview.

Where Did Jun-hee & Myung-gi Go Wrong Before Squid Game?

"He didn't even answer when Jun-hee tried to reach him..."ScreenRant: Jun-hee has a history with Myung-gi. Can you explain why she feels so betrayed by him?

Jo Yu-ri: Jun-hee is pregnant and he didn't keep in touch, and then he didn't even answer when Jun-hee tried to reach him. That's the main reason why Jun-hee is so resentful towards Myung-gi. Also, Jun-hee lost a lot of money because of Myung-gi. That's another reason.

How Do Myung-gi's Squid Game Motives Change When Jun-hee Arrives?

"I don't think [he's] completely lost his human side yet..."

Myung-gi standing in a crowd and talking in Squid Game season 2

Myung-gi’s reason for entering the game revolves around his crypto scam. Does Jun-hee’s presence there change his motivations or reveal any lingering feelings?

Im Si-wan: 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.

Jun-hee & Myung-gi's Dynamic "Will Continue To Evolve"In Squid Game

"There are a few additional lines to clarify where these two characters stand..."

Did the two of you establish a story for your relationship together beyond the script? What can you say about that?

Im Si-wan: I believe the dynamics or the relationship between these two characters went mostly according to the scripts, but I just heard that there are a few additional lines to clarify where these two characters stand in terms of their relationship. I think that this dynamic will continue to evolve because they have a very subtle and complicated relationship.

About Squid Game Season 2

Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk

Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history at the 74th Primetime Emmys® becoming the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, once again helms the series as director, writer, and producer. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from Season 1 with an impeccable list of new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an rounding out the ensemble of colorful characters in the new season.

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