Squid Game director addresses casting controversy ahead of season 2 premiere

• Squid Game director has been addressing various issues.
• He also addressed the casting controversy sparked by T.O.P's inclusion.
• T.O.P.’s involvement drew criticism due to his past legal troubles.

With the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game set to premiere in December 2024, director Hwang Dong Hyuk has been addressing various issues surrounding the hit Netflix series. Among them is a casting controversy sparked by the inclusion of former BIGBANG member T.O.P. (Choi Seung Hyun) in the upcoming season.

T.O.P.’s involvement drew criticism due to his past legal troubles, including a 2017 sentence for marijuana use. Responding to the backlash, Hwang acknowledged, “The incident happened a long time ago, and the sentence was completed. Many artists have returned after similar incidents, so I thought it might be an appropriate time for him to return to work.” However, he admitted to having “misjudged” the public's reaction.

Despite the controversy, Hwang praised T.O.P.’s dedication, revealing that he “personally oversaw his audition” and that Choi “demonstrated effort and talent, even during script readings.” The director affirmed that T.O.P. was the “most suitable choice” for the role and stated, “I decided to move forward, as we had already invested time together.”

Hwang also refuted rumors of favoritism, explaining, “I don’t cast based on friendship. I’ve always been particular about casting actors who are genuinely suited for their roles.”

Squid Game Season 2 will premiere on December 26, 2024, and a third season has already been greenlit for next year.

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