Squid Game 2 was defeated, the director immediately spoke up extremely strongly, causing controversy.

SBS's latest romance drama, Love Scout, has captured the attention of viewers, achieving a significant increase in viewership in just one week, beating out even the blockbuster Squid Game.

Focusing on an engaging story about workplace dynamics and sincere relationships, the film quickly gained attention, becoming a "must-see" film for Korean movie lovers.

Love Scout tells the story of an ambitious and charismatic CEO (played by Han Ji Min) who runs a top headhunting firm. Known for her relentless focus and drive in a cutthroat industry, Han Ji Min's character struggles to balance her professional and personal lives. Alongside her is her trusty secretary (played by Lee Joon Hyuk).

Unlike his workaholic boss, the secretary is warm, caring and very capable. He is also a single father and always skillfully balances parenting, family responsibilities and his work, creating an interesting contrast with the single CEO.

Episode 1 recorded a modest rating of 5.2%, rising slightly to 6.5% in episode 2. However, within just one week, thanks to word of mouth, the drama surpassed the double-digit mark, reaching a rating of 10.5% in episode 3 and 11.3% in episode 4. Episode 4 even recorded a peak rating of 14%. This impressive growth brought Love Scout to the top spot in its time slot across all channels.

Not only that, the drama also took a spot in the Top 10 Netflix Dramas in Korea on the 12th and 13th, beating out top dramas like Squid Game 2, The Tale of Lady Ok, and When the Stars Gossip.

This growth is attributed to the drama's unique storyline, the role-switching between the male and female leads that brings a fresh perspective to a familiar theme, and the explosive chemistry between Han Ji Min and Lee Joon Hyuk. Additionally, although Love Scout is a romantic comedy, its dialogue is realistic, avoiding overly sentimental or cheesy lines - a plus for viewers.

In another development, after being defeated by a new rookie, the director of Squid Game suddenly made a shocking statement.

Accordingly, in an interview with HeraldPop, director Hwang Dong Hyuk expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic support of international audiences.

“I am extremely grateful. All I can say is thank you. Despite the mixed reviews, in the end, the popularity of a work is often measured by the number of hours watched. It made me realize that there are many people around the world who love and wait for Squid Game. In this day and age, when there is a plethora of content to choose from, local productions are often loved within their own country or region. But for a single country’s content to be ranked No. 1 globally, is that possible? It’s amazing. I think that a Korean production topping the charts in 93 countries is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. I wonder if I will ever achieve something like this again,” Hwang shared.

The filmmaker, born in 1971, called the achievement of Squid Game 2 a "miracle". However, he admitted that the pride came with heavy pressure.

"After 5-6 years of focusing solely on Squid Game, I wasn't fully aware of the level of interest the world had in the film. But during this promotional tour, I was able to feel that interest again. While I realize the burden that comes with the crown, I also have many happy memories. I believe that I need to endure criticism," director Hwang emphasized.

While acknowledging the international support, Mr. Hwang said the lukewarm response from Korean audiences was disappointing.

"There is a saying that even a stray dog has half a chance of staying home, but I feel that the evaluation in Korea is the harshest. It's like I'm back home, but I feel even more uncomfortable. I just hope for a little more support," Mr. Hwang said.

"Squid Game - Squid Game" teased the teaser of season 2, causing outrage because of 1 detail Hoàng Phúc16:17:56 04/11/2024The teaser of Squid Game 2 has recently been announced, attracting great attention from the media and global audience. The trailer video gives a glimpse of the cast in the sequel to Netflix's No. 1 hit series.