Director and showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk, center, and executive producer Kim Ji-yeon, right, speak during a press conference for the Netflix series "Squid Game" Season 2 at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District, Aug. 1. Courtesy of Netflix

As the highly anticipated new season of "Squid Game" approaches its December release, the silence has been broken, and director and showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk, who captivated global audiences by exploring humanity beyond survival in Netflix's hit series, said his latest season goes even deeper into the harsh realities of the world.

"When people asked me why 'Squid Game' was so popular, I often responded that perhaps it's because the world has become as harsh as the world depicted in the show. I felt that's why people could relate to it so much. However, three years have passed since then, and I don't think the world has improved," the director said during an embargoed press conference for the show's second season at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District on Aug. 1.

With poverty and inequality still prevalent and conflicts and wars both within and between nations intensified, Hwang wanted to create a story that reexamines whether we have the power to change this deteriorating world.

"Are we capable of doing so? Are we beings who can accomplish such a feat? I wanted to seriously discuss whether there is hope for us," he said.

Released in 2021, "Squid Game" revolved around a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom were in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children's games for the chance to win a 45.6 billion won prize.

"Squid Game" Season 1 broke Netflix records with 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first month. As the first non-English series nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards, it made history for Korean content, bagging six trophies, including Outstanding Drama Series.

A scene from the Neflix series "Squid Game" Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix

Season 2, slated for a Dec. 26 release, picks up where the first season left off, with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the previous winner, deciding not to board a flight to the United States and instead returning to the game.

The director said that the most substantial change in the new season lies in the character of Seong. While he was a naive participant in the first season, he returns in the second season with a clear objective of seeking revenge and bringing the games to an end.

"Season 2 will introduce fresh characters and games while expanding on the theme of division. The survival vote will be central to the plot, symbolizing the growing polarization and conflicts in the world," Hwang said.

While the series earned praise for its scathing critique of capitalism, some viewers found the violent scenes in certain games unsettling. The director clarified that he viewed the violence, murder and harsh punishments depicted in the show as more symbolic and metaphorical than literal when compared to other content.

"The violence and harsh punishments inflicted upon those who fail in society's competition are symbolic representations of the punishments imposed by the system. This is intended to convey the elimination and exclusion of those who are left behind. I viewed these as symbolic acts of violence rather than literal depictions, such as a serial killer murdering someone," he said.

"The series questions whether humanity, ethics and morality can survive in a highly competitive world. So, Season 2 will delve deeper into these themes, presenting more challenges to human ethics."

There will likely be more new games in Season 2 that involve characters helping each other, leading to more dramatic plots within the games, according to the showrunner.

Actor Lee Jung-jae reprises his role of Seong Gi-hun in Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2. Courtesy of Netflix

Kim Ji-yeon, the show's executive producer and CEO of Firstman Studio, emphasized that significant effort has been invested into making Season 2 more visually stunning, from grander sets to meticulous production design, living up to the high expectations of "Squid Game" fans worldwide.

According to Hwang and Kim, one of the biggest challenges was keeping the show's secrets — from new games to characters' fates — under wraps, given the large cast and anticipated plot twists.

"The difficulty with 'Squid Game' was that revealing any information would be considered a spoiler, so to prevent this, even the actors who were eliminated didn't know other characters' fates beyond their own scenes. They didn't know where or how others would die, so even while filming together, only a few actors knew the full script," Kim said.

To prevent script leaks, the team also implemented a new, secure script-viewing system to avoid unauthorized access, Kim added.

Reflecting on the pressure to surpass the success of the first season, Hwang expressed confidence in Season 2's enhanced depth and complexity.

"The high expectations put a lot of pressure on me to create something even better," the director said.

"But I believe I've given my all to this project. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm confident that the hard work is evident on screen. I hope people will see that Seasons 2 and 3 have achieved a deeper level of completion than the first."

With Season 2 on the horizon, Netflix announced this summer that "Squid Game" will conclude with a third and final season, slated for release in 2025.