Netflix viewers are flocking to watch the second season of the hit series Squid Game, eager to discover the fates of characters embroiled in another round of lethal competition for riches. Picking up three years after Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) rejected the chance to board a plane, the gripping narrative escalates as it reveals the staggering cash reward for the winner: 45.6 billion Won.
The show's return doubles down on its ominous premise, with the game's organizers targeting individuals burdened by debt or dire circumstances. This dangerous allure drives players to extreme measures, as they engage once again in chilling childhood games with deadly twists. According to the Mirror US, these stakes make the contest irresistible for the desperate.
The grand prize is set at 45.6 billion Won, which is about £24 million at the current exchange rate. Players competing must survive five rounds of games, where each elimination contributes 100 million Won—around £54,000—into the overall prize pot. For many participants, this life-altering sum serves as motivation to risk everything, reflecting the harsh realities of income inequality and financial struggles.
Backtracking to the show’s initial launch, Squid Game faced significant backlash when it inadvertently impacted the life of South Korean resident Kim Gil-young. Her genuine phone number appeared on the pivotal business card featured prominently during the first season. After the series became the most-watched worldwide, viewers began dialing the displayed number, bombarding her with calls and messages.
"Since the airing of Squid Game, I've been receiving texts and calls 24 hours a day, to the point where it's difficult to live my daily life," Gil-young shared, detailing the ramifications of being targeted by viewers out of curiosity. She reported losing track of countless messages and deleting over 4,000 numbers from her phone. The saga escalated when the number resurfaced again, compelling her to seek help from Netflix and Siren Pictures.
Recognizing the distress caused, Netflix acted swiftly, editing out her number from subsequent broadcasts and replacing it with non-functional digits, 010-034. The streaming giant alongside Siren Pictures not only expressed regret but also urged fans to stop the prank calls and messages.
Season 2 has introduced safeguards to prevent repeats of Gil-young’s experience. While the same business card and phone number concept appears again, the streaming service has taken cautious measures to protect individuals from undue attention. Meanwhile, the subplot around life-altering money continues to draw viewers and analysts alike.
Seong Gi-hun’s character uses his winnings from the previous season strategically, attempting to navigate the murky waters of his new reality. He revisits some past dealings, proposing specific bonuses to his former loan shark associates, offering 500 million won—approximately £270,000—to locate The Salesman, another character pivotal to his quest.
Such interactions highlight how the desperation seen throughout the series compels each character's decision-making process, mirroring real-world economic pressures. Audiences are left on edge as they follow Gi-hun's attempts to confront the shadowy figures behind the deadly games.
The significance of monetary motivation within Squid Game serves as its beating heart, encapsulating the series' themes of morality, sacrifice, and human resilience. Viewers find themselves grappling with ethical questions: would they risk it all for financial freedom, even under deadly conditions?
The narrative’s complexity, backed by its unexpected societal critiques, continues to captivate globally. With Season 2 now available for streaming, fans will have to tune in to unearth the fates of the contestants and watch if Gi-hun can end the deathly spectacle.
Squid Game is currently streaming on Netflix.
