Hwang Dong-hyuk's Tooth Loss From Squid Game Stress

Despite the intense stress that caused him to lose several teeth during the production of Squid Game's first season, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is back at work on a second season. In a recent interview with the BBC, Hwang clarified that it wasn’t just six, but about eight or nine teeth that he lost due to the pressure. Originally, he didn’t plan to create a follow-up to the hugely successful Netflix series, but what changed his mind?

There were two main reasons: First, money. Hwang admitted that despite the overwhelming success of season one, he didn’t earn much from it. "Even though the first series was such a global hit, honestly, I didn’t make much," he confessed. The second reason was that he felt the story wasn’t fully told. "I didn’t completely finish the story," Hwang explained.

Season one, which was a sharp critique of the socioeconomic divide and wealth inequality, followed Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), a desperate contestant who risks his life in deadly children's games for a massive cash prize.

The second season will pick up three years after Seong Gi-hun's victory. As he attempts to return to a so-called “normal” life, Hwang noted that there is something inside him that has already been broken, making it impossible for him to go back to who he was.

While many characters were killed off in the first season, new faces will be introduced, although some familiar ones will also return. Lee Byung-hun will reprise his role as the Front Man, and his backstory will be explored in the upcoming season.

As expectations rise, Hwang admitted that the pressure is greater than ever. “The stress I feel now is much greater,” he shared. His teeth are also starting to ache again, and he joked that another trip to the dentist might be necessary soon. "I haven’t seen my dentist yet, but I’ll probably have to pull out a few more very soon," he added.

The highly anticipated Squid Game season 2 is set to premiere on Netflix on December 26.