Squid Game creator, cast join calls to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon

The stars and auteur behind the Netflix hit joined a growing chorus calling for President Yoon Suk-yeol to answer for his martial law decree

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South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk attends the global premiere of Squid Game’s second season in Seoul on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 10 Dec 2024Updated: 6:46pm, 10 Dec 2024

Squid Game auteur Hwang Dong-hyuk has joined calls by hundreds of South Korean actors and directors to impeach or oust President Yoon Suk-yeol, pitting one of the country’s most powerful industries against the embattled leader.

Hwang, who won global acclaim for creating Netflix’s most popular show of all time, used a news conference in Seoul on Monday ahead of the second season’s launch to blast Yoon for his now-revoked martial law decree. Yoon survived an impeachment motion over the weekend for his move, which plunged the country into its worst political crisis in about four decades.

Calling the situation “ridiculous”, the 52-year-old pointed out how divisions in society like those in his 2021 and coming series were fuelling chaos around the world.

“It’s unfortunate and infuriating that the whole country has to spend the end of the year with fear, anxiety, and depression because of this ridiculous situation,” Hwang told reporters.

“I hope that the person who is responsible for this situation takes responsibility as soon as possible, whether it is through impeachment or voluntary resignation, so that we can have a blessed year-end.”

A poster featuring a defaced image of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is seen in Seoul on Monday. Photo: Reuters

On Sunday, more than 3,000 film professionals, including Parasite director Bong Joon-ho and Old Boy director Park Chan-wook, issued a statement calling for Yoon’s exit.