'Yet another thrill ride': 'Squid Game' season two set for December, final season in 2025

Netflix’s hit series "Squid Game" (2021) will return for its second season on Dec. 26, followed by its third and final season in 2025, the streaming platform said Thursday.

A still from the second season of Netflix's ″Squid Game″ series. [NETFLIX]

Netflix’s hit series "Squid Game" (2021) will return for its second season on Dec. 26, followed by its third and final season in 2025, the streaming platform said Thursday.

Netflix Korea shared a letter the same day from "Squid Game" director Hwang Dong-hyuk on social media platforms such as Instagram and X.

“It’s been almost three years since season one was met with an incredible response around the world, and many unimaginable events have taken place,” Hwang said in the letter.

"On the first day we began shooting season two, I remember thinking, 'Wow, I can't believe I'm back in the world of Squid Game.' It felt almost surreal," he added.

The director also teased that Seong Gi-hun, the winner of the secret survival contest in the first season played by actor Lee Jung-jae, will rejoin the game, saying, “Will he succeed in getting his revenge?”

“We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride,” the director promised.

In the upcoming second season, new faces will appear alongside some of the original cast, including Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun and Gong Yoo.

The new cast members include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yu-ri from project group IZ*ONE and Choi Seung-hyun, also known as Big Bang’s former member T.O.P.

The first season of "Squid Game," released on Sept. 17, 2021, revolved around a secret survival contest with 456 players in dire financial need, playing a series of deadly children’s games for a chance to win the 45.6 billion won ($33.4 million) prize.

The series garnered major global popularity, reaching No. 1 in 94 countries, including the United States and Britain. It also recorded 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first month of release. The Netflix series received several prestigious awards, including Hwang winning the Best Director Award at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards and O Yeong-su winning the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]