Kim Ji-yong, the cinematographer of 'Squid Game 2', revealed behind-the-scenes details including the 'Younghee replacement rumor'.
On the 16th, an interview was held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with Jeong Jae-il, the music director, Chae Kyung-sun, the art director, and Kim Ji-yong, the cinematographer of the Netflix original series 'Squid Game 2'.
Released on December 26 last year, 'Squid Game 2' (written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk) depicts the fierce confrontation between Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who vows revenge and returns to participate in the game, and the Frontman (played by Lee Byung-hun), who welcomes him, along with the real story that begins anew.
This work has received praise for its more diverse character narratives compared to Season 1, the BGM reflecting the psychology of the game participants, and its vibrant color palette, firmly maintaining the top spot in Netflix's global Top 10 series category for three consecutive weeks.
When asked how he felt about 'Squid Game 2' being a global hit, Kim Ji-yong said, "I didn't participate in Season 1, so I shot Season 2 with the mindset of a fan. When I saw the completed work, I thought, 'Did I shoot this? It's interesting!' Since it was always the same team I worked with, I didn't feel much stress while shooting."
Kim Ji-yong mentioned that he focused on 'character' and 'story' while filming. He stated, "Compared to Season 1, the protagonist's personality has changed, right? This time, he entered the game for the second time. From the viewers' perspective, it has become a familiar space, so I shot it according to the character's situation and story."
He also wanted to convey that 'the inside of the game and the outside world are not that different.'
Kim Ji-yong explained, "If you look at the motel scene that appears early in Season 2, the space itself is interesting. After finishing the game in Season 1, Seong Gi-hun is still living in a mise-en-scène influenced by 'Squid Game.' Inside the motel, there is a pink sofa and pink towels. I wanted to bring elements from the game space by contrasting red and blue lights. But this isn't an excessive setting; it's something that actually exists in the real world."
He also shared insights about the much-discussed 'Younghee replacement rumor' and the 'Round and Round' game scene. Younghee, the tagger robot and mascot of 'Squid Game,' was surrounded by rumors of being replaced in Season 2 due to her noticeably different appearance.
In response, Kim Ji-yong said, "There are comments that Younghee's face has strangely changed, but we used the same Younghee as in Season 1. To avoid giving a repetitive feeling from Season 1, I wanted to shoot that scene in a way that made her increasingly scary and bizarre. So, even though it's the same Younghee, I shot it with different lens choices and distances from the camera. I'm glad the viewers recognized that intention."
Regarding the 'Round and Round' game scene, he said, "Overall, I wanted to shoot closely to the characters to give an experiential feeling. I also thought it would be nice to have shots from an omniscient perspective for each game."
He continued, "In the case of the 'Round and Round' game, since there is a circular platform and participants are standing on it, I thought about shooting from a high angle. When I set up the camera, it turned out better than I expected. It's a scene viewed from quite a distance, but ironically, it became a scene where you can see the whole situation properly. It wasn't intentional; it just happened to turn out that way," he said with a laugh.
Finally, Kim Ji-yong remarked, "The story of the 'Squid Game' series is extremely extreme and unbelievable. However, as you follow that process, there are moments of constant empathy. I think those aspects are well expressed, giving it the power to keep viewers focused." He added, "In Season 3, the complaints that were left unresolved in Season 2 will be addressed, so please keep an eye on it."
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today reporter]
