Squid Game 2 Set to Premiere Amidst Korean Wave Revival and Labor Unrest

The highly anticipated second season of Netflix's hit series Squid Game is set to premiere on December 26, as South Korea remains embroiled in political turmoil. The series, which has become a cultural phenomenon, draws inspiration from the country's history of labor unrest, including the 2009 Ssangyong strikes, but critics argue that its success has not led to meaningful change for workers.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has cited the Ssangyong strikes as an influence on the show, particularly in the experiences of the main character Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae. The strikes, which involved a 77-day occupation of a factory, resulted in clashes between strikers and riot police, with many union members severely beaten and jailed. The conflict had devastating consequences, including around 30 deaths by suicide and stress-related issues. Union leader Lee Chang-kun, who held a 100-day sit-in on top of a factory chimney to protest the sentence against the strikers, expressed frustration that the show's success had not led to more beneficial outcomes for workers in South Korea, who continue to face economic inequality, tense industrial relations, and polarized politics.

The release of Squid Game season 2 coincides with South Korea's current political turmoil, triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law. The move risked sending the Korean wave, which includes popular cultural products like Squid Game and Parasite, "into the abyss." The new season of Squid Game will premiere on Netflix on December 26 at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT and marks a return to the arena for Seong Gi-hun, with a new mission to take down the mysterious Front Man, the mastermind behind the deadly game. The season welcomes back recurring cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Gong Yoo, as well as new additions such as Yim Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul. The show's popularity has been renewed for a third and final season, which is set to premiere in 2025.

As the Korean wave continues to captivate audiences around the world, the underlying issues that inspired Squid Game remain unresolved. The success of the series has brought international attention to South Korea's labor struggles, but it remains to be seen whether it will lead to meaningful change for the country's workers.