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Cast and crew from “Squid Game” hold up their Emmy trophies at a press event held at the Westin Josun Seoul Hotel in downtown Seoul on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Five out of the six big golden Emmy trophies were all gathered in a single room. The remaining one was set to return soon.

On Sept. 16, one day before the one-year anniversary of the release of the hit Netflix series “Squid Game,” the Emmy-winning team behind the show came together at the Westin Josun Seoul Hotel in Seoul’s Jung District.

The occasion was a press conference organized by the “Squid Game” crew to celebrate having won six Emmy awards — the most prestigious awards in the US broadcasting industry. Among the awards won were those for direction of a drama series and best lead actor in a drama.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk speaks during the press event on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who was able to secure the first Emmy ever for best directing for a series in a language other than English, could not hide his joy as he lifted the trophy.

“Tomorrow marks one year since the release of ‘Squid Game’ and I am happy to be able to share in this meaningful event with so many trophies and the award-winning staff,” Hwang said.

Kim Ji-yeon, CEO of Siren Pictures, the production company for the series, said that “it was a difficult, surprising, happy, and rollercoaster-like year to get to this amazing place we are today. I am happy and thankful that it all ended well.”

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk speaks during the post-Emmy press event on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Art director Chae Kyoung-sun, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program, said, “While we were filming, I [jokingly] told Kim Ji-yeon we should make [the show] good and win an Emmy Award, but when it actually ended up becoming a reality, I got all choked up."

All the award-winning “Squid Game” team shared their thoughts that night, including Lee You-mi, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama; Cheong Jai-hoon, the VFX supervisor whose team won Outstanding Special Visual Effect; and stunt performers Shim Sang-min, Lee Tae-young, and Kim Cha-i, who helped the series win the Outstanding Stunt Performance Emmy.

Then, a familiar face appeared on the screen. It was Lee Jung-jae, the first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Lee was unable to attend the press conference in person since he was invited to the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada to showcase his directorial debut feature film “Hunt” for its North American premiere.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk sits on stage with fellow cast and crew during the “Squid Game” post-Emmy press event on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Lee Jung-jae recalled the moment his name was called as the winner for best actor.

“It was a very short moment, but I wondered if they really said my name. I thought about whether it was right or not three times in 0.1 seconds,” Lee said. “I'm still in a daze but many colleagues in Korea sent me congratulatory text messages and I am replying to each one of them to thank them. Now it is starting to feel more real,” Lee added.

"It is very meaningful that Korean content is able to connect with people around the world, receive love and spark conversation,” Lee continued, adding that he hopes that a “second and third ‘Squid Game’ will be released and more amazing Korean filmmakers and actors can come into contact with people around the world.”

Reporters at the event focused their questions on the reason for the Korean culture craze.

Hwang Dong-hyuk responded, “Foreigners, too, ask me about the sudden rise of Korean culture, citing the popularity of Parasite, BTS, and ‘Squid Game.’ Actually, we have always worked hard to create good products and promote them abroad. We have always kept an eye on foreign markets because we are dependent on exports for our livelihood, and this is true for cultural products as well. So I wonder if our current success might be attributed to a change in the media environment.”

He added, “Korea is a fiercely competitive and dynamic society. Works produced here reflect this aspect very well, and maybe we are gaining recognition for it.”

Emphasizing how important freedom was to the creation of Korean television shows and movies, Chae Kyoung-sun said, “My goal was to create something new. I worked hard to make a unique color scheme and set design for the place described in the script, and I was able to get the desired results because the director, the production staff and Netflix trusted me enough to give me autonomy.”

Lee You-mi poses with her Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress at the press event on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Lee Tae-young, who led the stunt team, said, “In Squid Game, almost 200 actors came together as one mind and body in a physically demanding performance.” He continued, “Only around 300 actors belong to the Korean film, broadcasting and performing arts labor union, and they’re responsible for most Korean movies and television shows. Though small in number, they really go to work, and are proud to compete at an international level. I have a background in sports and can say that Korean athletes do not bend even when faced with outstanding international competition. Our actors are slowly becoming recognized for demonstrating this same passion and vigor in their performances.”

Accepting the award for directing, Hwang said, “I hope this will not be my last Emmy, either. I’ll be back with Season 2,” piquing people’s curiosity as to the timing and circumstances of the series’ second season release.

Hwang said of this, “I’m in the middle of writing the script now. I expect we’ll film it next year (2023) and release it the year after (2024). But just the thought of filming gives me a body ache and a strange feeling in my teeth and gums.” He once complained of losing six teeth from stress while directing “Squid Game.”

Hwang once said he planned to make a movie before directing a second season of Squid Game, but now he has decided to put the movie on hold and film the series first. “If I leave it too long, I think that Lee Jung-Jae and some of the other actors could age too much,” he said, drawing a laugh.

Kim Ji-yeon, the CEO of “Squid Game” production company Siren Pictures, speaks at the post-Emmy press conference on Sept. 16 in downtown Seoul. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

When asked whether Lee You-mi, who was present at the event, will be acting in the following season, he responded, “I’d like to bring back Ji-young [played by Lee You-mi], but I’m in a dilemma as her close friend Sae-byeok [played by Jung Ho-yeon] also died. All the characters loved by the viewers died. I killed them off, not knowing that we’d be filming another season, and now I regret it. I’ll see what I can do.”

The point was raised that Netflix held all of the intellectual property rights and no extra profits would go to the Korean production company for “Squid Game,” despite its enormous success. Kim said, “I am well aware of the issues raised over IP rights. Although I can’t disclose the details of the contract for Season 2, we made sure that conditions have improved, and I believe the terms for this contract with Netflix are mutually beneficial.”

She continued, “This problem has emerged as a new paradigm of relations opens up between movie producers and investors. We are coming up with various countermeasures.” She added, “It is important for a production company to have power, and for this to happen, it must be able to secure funding at the outset. For one thing, a company that produces one show every few years does not have the money or strength to survive on its own. Also, it is much easier if public or private sponsors invest boldly in a production company so that it has leverage, taking its own capital to Netflix or another large company and then talking. I am in the position of seeking out this kind of solution myself.”

Hwang stated, “At a conventional awards ceremony, the spotlight shines only on the director and the actors. I was pleased that this time, Lee You-mi and the production staff were recognized at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, and the celebration was carried over to this week when the director and lead actor were honored. Now I must stop celebrating and get back to work on the script for Season 2. My flow was interrupted when I attended the ceremony. Now I have to get back into the story.”

Hwang finished the interview with a nod to his viewers, thanking them for their interest and support.

Cast and crew from “Squid Game” hold up their Emmy trophies at a press event held at the Westin Josun Seoul Hotel in downtown Seoul on Sept. 16. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

By Suh Jung-min, staff reporter

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