Despite the controversial casting choices and tepid reviews, Squid Game 2 still hit record numbers, debuting with 68 million views in its first two days alone.
One of the most talked-about moments came from episode four where Kang Ha-neul’s character aka Player 388 showed off his impressive skills playing gonggi – a traditional Korean children’s game.
Gonggi is played using five or more grape-sized pebbles. Think of it as the Korean version of our five stones.
But before you think it was all Ha-neul’s effort, we are afraid to disappoint you.
In the end credits of the series, it was revealed that someone by the name of Park Jong-nam was hired as Ha-neul’s stand in.
In fact, Jong-nam once appeared on a show called Master of Living where he was introduced as introduced as an expert in gonggi.
In a video posted to his Instagram last Thursday (Dec 26), Jong-nam shared behind-the-scenes details about his experience in Squid Game 2.
According to him, he was asked to assist with a hand scene involving the game two days before his wedding in October 2023.
Despite his busy schedule and not knowing what the project was about, Jong-nam agreed and travelled to the city of Daejeon the following day.
Only after meeting actors Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jung-jae, Ha-neul, and Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk did he realise what the project was for.
However, because of a confidentiality agreement, he was prohibited from taking any pictures with the actors.
“I couldn’t believe it… I was having a meal at the same table with such famous actors,” he wrote.
“During the meal, they talked about my wedding and gave their blessings. They even asked how I got so good at playing gonggi,” he added.
Jong-nam also shared that the now infamous scene was relatively straightforward and had to be filmed in one take. However, he said it was “so nerve-racking to perform in front of the actors” that his hands trembled but he was glad he got it right in just two takes.
He added that Ha-neul was always encouraging him to relax and even passed him bread for him to bring back to his wife.
“He is very caring and I finally realised why everyone likes Kang Ha-neul so much,” he said.