Park Gyu Young has revealed she underwent two rounds of auditions to join Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game 2, and she’s grateful for even that opportunity.
In a recent interview on January 3rd about the series directed by Hwang Dong Hyuk, Park Gyu Young discussed her journey to landing the role of Kang No Eul, a North Korean military defector turned game officer.
“I wasn’t offered the role of Kang No Eul right away—I had to go through two auditions to join the project,” the actress shared. “I only learned I’d be playing a Pink Guard after receiving the script and got to read the full script after being cast.” She added, “While playing a game participant would have been interesting too, I was even more excited about the Pink Guard role because this character helps explain the new world view.”
Despite her leading roles in various dramas, why did Park choose to audition for Squid Game 2? “Getting to appear in a globally beloved series is a rare opportunity in an actor’s life. Even getting to audition was something to be grateful for,” she explained.
“It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel pressure following the unprecedented success of Season 1,” Park admitted. “(The role I played) is both big and small, and I wanted to convey the character’s full history within the given screen time.” She elaborated, “The show has three main groups—game operators, participants, and those seeking the truth—and their ensemble is crucial. I didn’t think about the amount of screen time.”
When asked about other characters that caught her eye, Park revealed, “The Front Man was fascinating. The character’s twist this season was impressive, and Lee Byung Hun portrayed it wonderfully.” Regarding which games she might excel at, she candidly shared, “The only one I could do is the gonggi,” adding with a laugh, “I probably would have died in round 2.”
“This is my first time being part of a project that’s hitting these kinds of astronomical numbers. It still doesn’t feel real. It’s amazing, and I’m grateful,” Park expressed. “‘Squid Game’ is Netflix’s most successful series ever. It’s an honor just to be part of it.”
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