[INTERVIEW] Park Gyu-young says she hoped to surprise viewers in ‚Squid Game‘ 2

Actor Park Gyu-young speaks on the manufacturing press convention for the Netflix collection „Squid Sport“ Season 2 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Dec. 9. Yonhap

Actor Park Gyu-young, who gained consideration for her position as a Pink Guard in Netflix’s „Squid Sport“ Season 2, mentioned she labored to steadiness the pressures of the position whereas staying grounded and sustaining her vitality.

In a current interview at a restaurant in Seoul, Park talked about her position within the second season of „Squid Sport.“ Park performs No-eul, a former soldier and North Korean defector working in a theme park whereas trying to find her daughter left behind within the North. Sporting the signature pink uniform of the guards, No-eul’s story unfolds with emotional depth.

Park’s casting within the globally acclaimed „Squid Sport“ collection immediately put her within the highlight. Though she had beforehand starred in Netflix hits like „Candy House“ and „Superstar,“ becoming a member of the cultural phenomenon got here with immense stress.

“That is my first time being a part of such a broadly talked-about undertaking,” Park mentioned. “The stress naturally became a way of duty. I spotted that carrying an excessive amount of burden wouldn’t assist me, so I centered on doing what I might, taking suggestions and doing my finest.”

Her character, No-eul, stored followers guessing because the position remained shrouded in secrecy earlier than the discharge. The reveal of her as a Pink Guard sparked shock and reward from viewers, particularly abroad.

“I hoped audiences could be stunned by me. Watching worldwide YouTubers react so excitedly was thrilling. It made me proud to see so many individuals benefit from the elements the place I used to be concerned,” Park mentioned.

Park Gyu-young poses on the Pink Carpet photograph wall through the world premiere occasion for the second season of „Squid Sport“ at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Dec. 9. Yonhap

Position constructed on refined depth

Park revealed she quietly auditioned for the position, sending in a video earlier than attending an in-person audition. Solely after being forged did she study she would play a Pink Guard.

“I didn’t deliberately intention to depart an impression. Even when it wasn’t ‚Squid Sport,‘ I consider specializing in the story and character is what issues most. That’s how I method my work in truth,” she mentioned.

To embody No-eul, a mom residing with out hope after dropping her daughter, Park deliberately decreased the depth of her performing, sustaining a subdued tone even in her respiration.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk described No-eul as “a personality whose flame has extinguished, fading into the darkness,” a sentiment Park faithfully delivered to life.

“I stripped away all pointless vitality, sustaining a slower rhythm to painting somebody on the fringe of despair,” she mentioned. “No-eul represents somebody who has misplaced probably the most treasured a part of herself — her daughter. By immersing myself within the story, I might keep true to the character.”

Park Gyu-young as Kang No-eul, a former soldier and North Korean defector within the second „Squid Sport“ collection / Courtesy of Netflix

Reflecting on set and co-stars

As a fan of the primary season, Park expressed slight envy over not taking part within the video games. “Filming on the sport units regarded enjoyable, and different actors grew shut by means of these scenes. My interactions have been principally in ready or dressing rooms,” she mentioned with fun. “However the vitality on set was unbelievable. Watching my seniors’ performances on the monitor was inspiring — they introduced such urgency and stress.”

Park praised the working setting created by director Hwang, noting, “He has such a transparent imaginative and prescient that nobody on set felt confused or overwhelmed, even with the large-scale manufacturing. Regardless of the challenges, the environment was really satisfying.”

As for the upcoming third season, Park teased, “Season 3 will make clear unresolved elements of the story from Season 2. Many characters and narratives will come to a conclusion, and the world constructed by the director might be absolutely defined.”

Following its launch, the brand new season rapidly dominated international charts. It ranked No. 1 in Netflix’s non-English TV collection class for the fourth week of December, with 68 million cumulative viewing hours inside 4 days, in keeping with Netflix. It additionally topped Netflix’s collection rankings in all 93 international locations tracked by FlixPatrol.

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.