The highly anticipated second season of Squid game premieres worldwide on December 26, 2024, exclusively on Netflix at 3 a.m. EST (i.e. 5 p.m. KST). As fans prepare for the second season of the dystopian thriller that captivated audiences and critics worldwide in 2021, the new season not only features intense drama but also a cast of notable musical talents.

Familiar faces returning from the first season include Wi Hajoon (as detective Hwang Junho), Lee Byunghun (as the enigmatic “frontman”) and Gong Yoo (the mysterious, handsome recruiter). But beyond their gripping performances, each actor also has something to share about their musical flair with the world: Wi Hajoon has released singles showcasing his vocal abilities, Lee Byunghun released his own album, and Gong Yoo’s legendary performances in K-pop The visual elements continue to be well received by fans.

Season 2 features some of K-pop’s brightest stars. Jo Yuri, formerly a member of the chart-topping girl group IZ*ONE, energizes the cast with a solo career that reflects her vocal and acting prowess. Meanwhile, Choi Seunghyun, better known as TOP of BIGBANG, also enters the stage Squid game He moves into the spotlight and brings his charismatic stage presence and years of worldwide recognition as a rapper, singer and lyricist to the new role.

From the familiar faces fans remember from the first season to the new contestants looking to tempt fate in the games and celebrate the series’ musical genius Squid game The second season cast simultaneously admired the intense acting required for such a show.

Wi Hajoon (who plays Hwang Junho)

As one of the few originals Squid game In the second season, the cast returns and Wi Ha-joon will continue his search as police officer Hwang Jun-ho, who is desperate to find his missing brother and ends up getting involved in the sadistic games.

Wi attended Sungkyul University in South Korea to study theater and film, which gave him a comprehensive foundational education for his future stardom. After making his acting debut in a short film in 2012, Wi gained his international breakthrough with roles in various films and television shows Squid game.

In 2018, Wi recorded a single for the official soundtrack to Matrimonial Chaos, the award-winning TV series in which he appeared over the winter. His rock ballad song “Maybe It’s Too Late” offers a sweet and soothing tone for the actor.

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Lee Byunghun (who plays Hwang Inho or “The Front Man”)

Lee Byung-hun is also returning for the second season of squid game, The veteran actor will reprise the role of Hwang In-ho, also known as “The Front Man.”

Since starting out in Korea in the ’90s, Lee has starred in roles in Hollywood franchises such as: GI Joe And Terminator and was the first South Korean actor to present an Oscar at the Academy Awards. During his historic career, Lee released an album titled in 1999 Lee Byung Hun – For meand returned to music in 2008 with his single “Itsuka (Someday).”

For the 2009 Korean television series Iris, Lee contributed the songs “Stay” and “Endless Road” to its official soundtrack, which was released in Korea and Japan, and even recorded “Endless Road” on a Japanese deluxe box set in the country.

But beyond his music career, Lee is also friends with some of the biggest names in K-pop.

He starred in a music video for PSY when the viral K-pop king released his single “I LUV IT” in 2017, helping it reach more than 130 million views to date. Plus, ahead of the second season premiere of Squid gameLee sat down to review the new song and music video “Easy Lover” by K-pop legend JY Park (the founder and namesake of JYP Entertainment, which includes popular groups like TWICE, Stray Kids and ITZY).

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Im Siwan (who plays Lee Myunggi or “Contestant 333”)

While Im Siwan is now best known for his acting career, he entered the entertainment industry through the K-pop industry. After three years of training at the Korean agency Star Empire, Siwan debuted in January 2010 as one of nine members of the boy band ZE:A.

While ZE:A never reached the top of the Korean music charts, the group released music together for five years. Her highest-charting single came in 2013 with “The Ghost of the Wind” and a year later, in June 2014, her highest-charting album, as First man reached number 2 on the Korean Circle Album Charts. “Breathe,” the lead single from First man, remains the group’s most viewed YouTube music video with nearly 10 million views.

Throughout ZE:A’s career, the members split into different sub-units at various times, with Siwan appearing as one of five members of ZE:A FIVE releasing their bands Voulez-Vous EP in March 2013.

While Siwan has never released a full-length solo project, the Busan native has released a few solo singles over the years, with his first major collaboration with Korean diva Jo Hyunah of R&B trio Urban Zakapa on “Tick Tock” back in the year 2017. In 2023, Siwan took over lead vocals on the track “Fly Your Kite”, created by K-pop folk producer Lee Chanhyuk of AKMU was produced, and also released a duet with Winter of the most successful girl group Aespa entitled “Win ​​for You”.

Siwan has also contributed songs to official soundtracks of various Korean dramas, including several in which he starred, such as 2014 Misaeng: Incomplete Life, 2017 The king in love, 2020s Keep running, And 2022 Tracer. Check out Im Siwan’s “My Heart” music video for which it was recorded King in love below:

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Jo Yuri (who plays Kim Junhee or “Candidate 222”)

K-pop fans rejoiced to have one of the scene’s brightest solo stars in attendance Squid game Cast with Jo Yuri.

The 23-year-old first attracted attention as a participant in the singing competition show in 2017 Idol schoolwhere the nine best participants formed the girl group “fromis_9”. While she placed 15th and missed the final roster, she competed in another survival show a year later. Produce 48where she placed third out of nearly 100 participants, securing a spot in the newly formed group IZ*ONE and promoting its 11 members for three years.

After her time with IZ*ONE ended, Jo Yuri quickly launched her solo career, juggling singing, acting and hosting.

To date, she has released four solo records and several singles, including three top 10 albums, both of which landed in 2021 Glassy And Op.22 Y-Walt Released in 2022, the album charted at No. 5 on the Korean Circle Album Charts – the former’s title track garnered more than 16 million views in its official video via YouTube.

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Choi Seunghyun (who plays “Thanos” or “Contestant 230”)

Even if K-pop fans don’t immediately recognize the name Choi Seunghyun, they certainly know this superstar from his time in the generation-defining boy band BIGBANG, where he performed under the stage name TOP

Choi began his musical career as an underground rapper, but eventually joined major Korean label YG Entertainment (the same label as BLACKPINK) and debuted as a rapper with BIGBANG in 2006. The group topped the charts together for more than a decade, and Choi released successful solo singles such as the 2010 Korean Top 2 hit “Turn It Up” and “Doom Dada,” which peaked at No. 4 in 2013 and entered billboards US-based World Digital Songs chart at number 3.

During his time in BIGBANG, TOP contributed significantly to the group’s lyrics and compositions and even helped co-write and co-compose the group’s 2022 single “Still Life”, which ultimately marked his departure from the group. Choi even teamed up with BIGBANG leader G-Dragon for a duo album titled GD & TOPwhich was produced by Diplo and Teddy and featured a number of big names including Major Lazer, Bruno Mars, Pixie Lott, 2NE1’s Park Bom and more.

In early 2022, YG Entertainment announced that TOP had ended its contract with the label. A year later, in May 2023, TOP announced that he had withdrawn from the group, signaling that he would focus on other ventures such as acting, art collecting, and even a possible spaceflight aboard the SpaceX spacecraft (which was ultimately canceled ) concentrated.

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Kang Haneul (Who plays Daeho or “Participant 388”)

Kang Haneul, a top Korean actor with an extensive list of credits, never officially launched a music career, but has more than a decade of experience in musical performances (including local productions of famous plays like…). Spring awakening And Assassin), starred in music videos (such as Fly to the Sky’s 2007 single “Still Pretty Today” and Epik High’s “Lost One” in 2017) and recorded songs for the soundtracks to his various television and film projects (such as the song “Self-Portrait”, below, for the historical film Dongju: A Poet’s Portrait in which he played the main role).

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Park Sunghoon (Who plays Hyunju or “Candidate 120”)

While Park Sunghoon has become more popular for his villain roles in recent K-dramas such as The Glory and Queen of Tears, the actor also has over a decade of theater and music experience.

The 2020 TV series Monuments was significant not only for his first leading role, but also for his first musical release with the single “Our Memories in Summer” alongside series co-star Nana, who entered the entertainment industry as a member of the girl group After School and its splinter group started with orange caramel.

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Gong Yoo (who plays a salesman recruiting participants for Squid Game)

If you can’t get enough of the veteran actor (who also returns from the first season), check out his song “Because It’s You,” which was recorded for the official soundtrack Largethe 2012 Korean drama he starred in, or check out his starring role in the music video for singer-songwriter Kim Dongryul’s “How I Am.”

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Park Gyuyoung (Who plays Noeul in Squid game Season 2)

Originally scouted by top K-pop agency JYP Entertainment, Park Gyuyoung’s music experiences primarily focus on performing in music videos. The 31-year-old starred in videos for K-pop stars like DAY6 (which helped the band get more than 18 million views on their official music video for “I Like You”) and Urban Zakapa (he appeared in both “You” videos ). re the Reason” and “As I Wished” videos) and Jo Kwon (in “Crossroads,” which has 1.5 million views).

At press time, Park’s most recent music video work was with Super Junior’s Yesung in the 2021 single “Beautiful Night,” which has received nearly two million views on YouTube.