“Squid Game” protagonist Player 456 may have slipped into the iconic green tracksuit and returned for another round of the murderous survival game in the series’ upcoming second season. But he is no longer just focused on his own victory, but now also carries the burden of his competitors on his shoulders.

Lee Jung-jae, who reprises his role as winner Seong Gi-hun in the new season airing on Netflix on December 26, said his character is darker and more serious this time after a traumatic first season.

He told NBC News he is also on a mission to save others who have joined the high-pressure, high-stakes game. The character development even pushed the actor himself to evolve, he said.

“When actors really delve into their characters, I think sometimes their values ​​can change depending on what the character is thinking,” Lee said in Korean through a translator. “’Squid Game’ is really about justice and bringing people together. And I really thought about that a lot.”

In the coming season, the traumatized Gi-hun gives up his plan to get on a plane to the USA with his winnings. Instead, he decides to get back into the sport three years later with the sole goal of putting an end to it. Surrounded by a new group of players, Gi-hun tries to protect them all from the violence that comes with the tempting gaming winnings of 45.6 billion won.

While the first season features a rather optimistic Gi-hun, unaware of the depth of the game’s horrors, the second season shows a hardened man focused only on his noble task. And with such universal themes as greed, humanity and temptation at play, Lee hopes fans will find the show not only entertaining, but also an opportunity for introspection.

“I hope that people who watch the show also have some time to think about human nature and think about whether we are on the right path – whether we are on the path to making the world a better place , or whether we go the other way,” Lee said.

The upcoming season, which has already won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series, was no less disheartening than the show’s wildly successful first season. Lee said he was equally stressed and brought the two versions of Gi-hun to light. And director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who said he lost seven teeth during the production of the first season, said the show faced some high expectations and noise this time.

“Because the first season was so popular around the world, I felt tremendous pressure when it was decided that there would be a second season,” Hwang said. “So many people out there said, ‘Season one was perfect.’ Why don’t you just end it with the first season?’”

Hwang added that there were concerns he would “let the world down” and ruin his reputation with another season.

“But instead of it having a negative impact on me, I tried to use it as a creative catalyst and fuel for myself,” he said.