Director Yeon Sang-ho, fourth from left, and screenwriter Choi Gyu-seok, fourth from right, pose with cast members of "Hellbound" Season 2 during a press conference at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Three years on, Yeon Sang-ho, the acclaimed director behind "Train to Busan," revisits his dystopian universe with the second season of "Hellbound" on Netflix.

The first season quickly became a global phenomenon, securing a spot in the Top 10 charts in 93 countries within just 10 days of its release in 2021. The highly anticipated new season premieres Friday, promising to enthrall audiences worldwide once again with more intricate world-building and a richer ensemble of characters.

Director Yeon described his new drama as a "game of chess featuring extraordinary individuals battling with their own unique ideologies."

"If Season 1 portrayed people who were bewildered by the sudden appearance of supernatural phenomena, Season 2 depicts individuals who face a new situation: resurrection. It tells the story of these people and those who seek to establish new principles," said the director during a press conference at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, Monday.

"The mere appearance of hell, angels of death and hellbound notices set up a unique and intriguing concept for the first season. Its ending, with the introduction of resurrection, left viewers with an even more thought-provoking question and this anticipation led to great expectations for Season 2."

The new season expands on the philosophical and moral complexities in the storyline.

"For Season 2, I wanted to expand on this world, rather than simply retelling the same story. Drawing inspiration from the society around us, I wanted to create something new within the established universe of 'Hellbound' Season 1," he explained.

Based on the webcomic of the same name, "Hellbound" revolves around a fictional society where individuals are told the time and date of their death. When the time comes, supernatural creatures appear and brutally condemn the individual to hell. Amid the chaos, a religious group named the New Truth rises to power by preaching divine justice, while people make a secret organization, the Sodo, to fight against the New Truth and its twisted dogma.

A scene from Netflix series "Hellbound" Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix

The new season delves into a world further thrown into chaos by relentless hellbound notices. The narrative centers on the sudden resurrections of Jung Jin-su (Kim Sung-cheol), the chairperson of the New Truth, and Park Jung-ja (Kim Shin-rok). It explores the intricate relationships among the government, the New Truth, the Arrowheads and the Sodo, all locked in a conflict where each group justifies its actions.

Writer Choi Gyu-seok also stressed that while Season 1 introduced a world-altering event, Season 2 explores the aftermath — the government's power has waned, the New Truth has faded and the Arrowheads have become a dominant force.

"When director Yeon proposed a sequel, I wondered if it was feasible. But, when we were exploring the ramifications of the baby incident (around a newborn who survived the hellbound notice), we discovered a wealth of new ideas. So Season 2 is not a mere repetition, but a progression into a new world," Choi said.

Kim Sung-cheol, who debuted as a stage actor in 2014, takes up the role of the resurrected New Truth leader Jung Jin-su, taking the place of Yoo Ah-in, who will face an appeal trial for drug charges later this month.

Regarding Kim's casting, Yeon said what impressed him the most was Kim's striking resemblance to the Jung Jin-su character from the original webtoon.

"I knew it could be a double-edged sword kind of role (as different actors are cast for the same character in Seasons 1 and 2), but the feeling that Kim could do well with it outweighed any risks," the director explained, adding that he was blown away by Kim's energy on musical stages.

Kim vowed to bring a fresh interpretation to the resurrected leader, focusing on capturing the intensity of his character's suffering.

"I imagined what it would be like to endure eight years of constant torment and fear and I wanted to portray the resurrected Jung Jin-su as someone who is still deeply scarred," Kim said.

Moon Geun-young, best known for her lovely characters, makes a long-awaited return, taking a daring turn in this drama. As the kindergarten teacher-turned-cult leader of the Arrowheads, she describes her character as "an ordinary person who becomes so engrossed in religion that she becomes a fanatic leader."

Director Yeon shared his hope that "Hellbound" Season 2 would inspire philosophical discussions, saying, "I want viewers to feel the need to talk about the deeper questions the series raises."

He hinted that the ending of the series diverges from the original webcomic, upping the expectation for a compelling continuation of its dark and thought-provoking narrative.