LOS ANGELES: The director of "Squid Game," the dystopic South Korean TV series on Netflix, expressed confidence that the wildly popular show will return for a second season.
"We are in the talks for Season Two," writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk said in an interview on Monday. "It's all in my head. I have the basic storyline, the broad plan, so we're in the brainstorming stages.
"I'm going to go ahead and say there will be a second season, but as for when, I cannot tell you now," Hwang added.
"He will come back, he will come back and do something about this world," the director said, referring to protagonist Seong Gi-hun, played by actor Lee Jung-Jae.
Hwang, Lee and others involved in the show, one of Netflix's biggest hits ever, attended a special Hollywood screening on Monday to celebrate its success.
"Squid Game," in which debt-ridden people compete in a deadly game for a fortune, has inspired Halloween costumes and themed protests at the United Nations global climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, among other things.
"It feels so surreal," Hwang said of his creation's impact. "It's almost like I myself am living in a fantastical world."
"I just can't believe this is happening," actor Lee said. "I did not know or ever imagined it would make it this big. I didn't ever think we would get this much love, so being here and standing in front of you, everything, I just feel so grateful."
The series' success echoes that of 2020 Oscar winner "Parasite," which also showed the gap between rich and poor in South Korea.
Actor Park Hae-soo, who plays a contestant named Cho Sang-woo, said, "Everybody actually has that rage, but I think the Koreans are really able to express that honestly."
Reuters
Wed Nov 10 2021

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk attends a special event for the television series Squid Game in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 8, 2021. - REUTERS

What happened in Philippine drug war that led to Duterte's arrest?
Here are some facts about the drug war during Duterte's presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Soccer - Manchester United plans to build 'world's greatest stadium'
Manchester United plans to build a new 100,000-seat stadium next to the existing Old Trafford, the club announces.

Meta begins testing its first in-house AI training chip
Meta is working with Taiwan-based chip manufacturer TSMC to produce the chip, according to sources.

Russia says it wants united and 'friendly' Syria
Russia has two strategically important military bases in Syria, which it is hoping to retain in the wake of Assad's fall.

Musk says juggling DOGE and CEO jobs is difficult, as Tesla shares slump
Elon Musk says he is running his businesses "with great difficulty" while working with the Trump administration.

Philippine ex-leader Duterte long defiant on deadly drug war
Before becoming president, Rodrigo Duterte earned the nicknames "The Punisher" and "Duterte Harry" for his violent anti-drug crackdown.

Ismail Sabri probe: 36 witnesses finish giving statements to MACC, 23 others to be summoned
A MACC source said 23 other witnesses have also been identified and would be summoned to give their statements soon.

Westin Hotels marks World Sleep Day with wellness-focused offerings
With a growing demand for sleep tourism and wellness travel, Westin aims to solidify its position as a leader in holistic hospitality.

Govt wants local experts to help improve national cyber security - PM's press secretary
Tunku Nashrul Abaidah says the government has high confidence in local expertise to face cybersecurity challenges.

Philippines' ex-President Duterte arrested at ICC's request over 'drugs war', government says
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested upon his arrival at a Manila airport and the ex-leader is now in custody, the office of the president said.
![[COLUMNIST] Lighting up lives: How solar power is transforming Orang Asal villages in Sabah [COLUMNIST] Lighting up lives: How solar power is transforming Orang Asal villages in Sabah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-03/81741682061_tbOrangAslisolar.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Lighting up lives: How solar power is transforming Orang Asal villages in Sabah
For years, families in these villages relied on diesel generators, but the high cost of fuel and maintenance meant electricity was a luxury.

Court postpones verdict in Aliff Syukri obscene content case to March 14
Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman faces four charges of uploading obscene content on his Instagram account in 2022.

Trump says he will buy a 'new Tesla' to show support for Musk
Tesla's market capitalisation has more than halved since hitting an all-time high of $1.5 trillion on December 17.

Tanker hired by US military ablaze off UK after hit by container ship
The ship is carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical used mainly in gold mining, and an unknown quantity of alcohol.

Failure to pay PTPTN loan: UMNO Youth supports proposal to ban borrowers from overseas travel
UMNO Youth chief says the borrowers involved must be responsible in settling their debts with PTPTN for the sake of future generations.

Pope Francis no longer faces immediate danger, responding to treatment, Vatican says
The Vatican says pope's doctors decided to lift an earlier "guarded" prognosis, meaning the pontiff was no longer in immediate danger.

AI Revolution: Will Malaysia’s workforce sink or swim?
AI is no longer a distant concept, it is actively transforming industries, reshaping job markets, and redefining the skills needed.

Dalai Lama says his successor to be born outside China
Beijing insists it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama says any successor named by China would not be respected.

US judge says Musk's DOGE must release records on operations run in 'secrecy'
The ruling, the first of its kind, marks an early victory for advocates pushing DOGE to be more transparent about its role in mass firings.

How to Get to Merdeka 118: Your Complete Guide
Heres everything you need to know about getting there efficiently.