Hwang Dong-hyuk, the mind behind “Squid Game,” is sharing insights on his reasons for creating a second season.

As he prepares for Season 2 of the globally acclaimed South Korean series on Netflix, which set records as the platform’s most popular show, Hwang has spoken candidly about the limited financial rewards he gained from the show’s initial success.

“Despite the massive worldwide popularity of the first season, I actually didn’t earn much,” he stated in a BBC interview released on Monday. “So, working on the second season will help me benefit from the success of the first one as well.”

While he admits that financial gain is part of his motivation for continuing the series, he also mentions that he “didn’t completely finish the story.”

It has been over three years since the release of the first season, which depicts a grim competition where financially struggling individuals compete in dangerous children’s games for a cash prize. In Season 2, the focus will shift to last season’s champion, Gi-hun, as he attempts to dismantle the game from within.

Hwang shared with BBC that the experience of creating the first season was so intense that he ended up losing “eight or nine” teeth, and he claims that “the stress I’m experiencing now is much higher.”

According to BBC, in the second season, players will now have to make a choice after each game: either end the competition early and survive or continue playing for the grand prize, risking their lives. The decision made by the majority will determine the outcome.

Hwang draws parallels between this new twist in the show and current world issues such as global conflicts, climate change, and increasing economic inequality. “New divisions are forming. We’re living in a time of us versus them. Who judges what’s right and wrong?”

‘Squid Game’ Season 2: Updates

Season 2 of “Squid Game” is set to premiere on Netflix on December 26. Earlier this year, it was also announced that a third and final season is in the works.

The series claimed the top position on Netflix in 70 different countries, including the U.S., when it first launched in September 2021, leading to a surge of memes, costumes, and widespread buzz online.

This upcoming season will feature Gi-hun, known as Player 456, returning to the deadly game with the intention of uncovering the masterminds behind it and stopping their vicious competition, as per the official plot summary for Season 2.

“Three years after becoming victorious in Squid Game, Player 456 has decided against going to the States and returns with a renewed sense of purpose,” reads the synopsis. “Gi-hun once again immerses himself into the enigmatic survival game, embarking on another life-or-death battle with new competitors vying for the massive prize of 45.6 billion won, approximately $38,460,271.”