Squid Game actor Lee Jung-jae can’t stop praising Gong Yoo for his Season 2 performance, details explored 

Season two of Squid Game has managed to live up to the anticipation generated by the first season. Unlike many other shows that often deliver an underwhelming second season after a successful debut, Squid Game season 2 has succeeded in delivering a stunning second installment that entertains while at the same time taking the narrative of Gi-hun's revenge saga forward.

Lee Jung-jae recently spoke in an interview with Netflix, where he praised Gong Yoo's acting prowess. He mentioned that audiences will now be able to see a different side of the latter on the show, as compared to his previous romantic roles.

Squid Game season 2 offers a host of memorable characters, including the charismatic humanist Gi-hun, the gray antagonist Front Man or In-Ho, the innocent Jung-bae, etc. Among the others, one particular character that has been reprised from the first season of Squid Game is the Salesman.

He is responsible for locating desperate potential players for the games. He looks for those who have a tendency to gamble and are preferably in huge debt.

The second season of Squid Game began with Gi-hun trying to locate The Salesman as the first step of getting himself back into the game. This leads to several twisting events that ultimately end with The Salesman, played by actor Gong Yoo, shooting himself in the head. In a recent interview, actor Lee Jun-jae (Gi-hun) praised the acting prowess of Gong Yoo. Here's everything we know.

---

Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae is all praise for co-star Gong Yoo

Speaking in an interview with Netflix's K-Content, Lee Jung-jae expressed his appreciation for co-actor Gong Yoo. He stated:

"I kept telling Gong Yoo that he did an amazing job. And I really meant it. He's not just charismatic but also mischievous in the scene. He even looks frightening and embodies all that in his acting."

The scene that Jung-jae is referring to is the one that appears towards the climax of the second season premiere. After scrambling a hell of a lot of resources from this 45.6 billion won season one prize money, Gi-hun employed dozens of men to locate the elusive Salesman all across Seoul.

After a prolonged search, when the Salesman is finally tracked down, two of the men try to overpower him, only to be brutally tortured later. Eventually, the Salesman reaches Gi-hun's residence, and the two sit down to a nerve-wracking game of Russian roulette. Ultimately, the Salesman died by shooting himself in the head after Gi-hun humiliated him into continuing the 'game.'

During the interview, Jung-jae also mentioned that viewers will finally see a different side of actor Gong Yoo, who was previously known for portraying charming or romantic roles. Jung-jae reiterated that the Russian Roulette "scene couldn't have served better as a perfect climax" for the first episode of the new season. He added:

"There's another roulette scene earlier on (in the episode). It's as horrifying as it is humorous. It's a very complex scene. In the natural flow of these scenes, I think the audience will really be drawn in."

---

Hwang Dong-hyuk opens up about the character of The Salesman

Speaking in an interview with RadioTimes, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk opened up about The Salesman. He said:

"I believe that Gong Yoo's character is someone who lived a difficult, tough, rock-bottom life, just as much as those that are depicted as the homeless people in the series. And he is someone who is so filled with self-hatred that it is expressed in the hatred he harbors for other humans. And by hating these people, he believes that he is different from them. (He is) showing and expressing his hatred for the people who choose lottery tickets instead of bread, almost as if he's trying to escape his own self-loathing nature."

---

Squid Game season two is exclusively available on Netflix.