Latest news with #Hyuk
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Squid Game' creator Hwang Dong Hyuk talks about the hardships of filming: lost around 10 teeth; says, "I haven't put them back in yet"
Hwang Dong Hyuk got open and candid about all the hardships he has had to face while creating the hit OTT series 'Squid Game'. The director shared how hard everything has been and how he 'lost two more teeth' while doing the second season of 'Squid Game'. Hwang Dong Hyuk talks about losing teeth while filming 'Squid Game' The director got candid and opened up about the filming process for 'Squid Game' in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He shared how initially he thought that the process would go over smoothly and how he would be fine, yet things ended up taking a massive turn. He said, 'I thought it was going to be okay, but this time I had to pull out two more teeth as well. I had to pull out about eight teeth in season 1, and now I have two more teeth out, and I haven't put them back in yet. So I'm waiting for them.' He also recalled losing "eight or nine" teeth when he was filming for the first official season of the thriller and action-packed show. He added, 'I do already have the universe and the space that I have envisioned come to life, so in a sense, season 2 and season 3 were easier compared to season 1.' Had to shoot and write seasons 2 and 3 in one go Hyuk also talked about why it was so taxing in the first place when he had to work on the second and third seasons of 'Squid Games'. He shared, "But the problem is that for season 2 and season 3, we had to shoot and write in one go. It was as if we were making one season, and we tried as best as we could to bring in season 3 as fast as possible. So the total amount was much larger, and we had to shoot for around one year, so it was very physically demanding." Hyuk talks about what's new with season three Other than detailing his turmoil about what went down behind the camera, the director also shared what all the fans can expect from the third and final season of the show. He shared during the interview that "In the case of season 3, I wanted to introduce games that could really show the lowest bottom of human beings because the series itself is reaching its climax. I wanted very intense games to bring out the bottom parts of human nature." He also continued by saying, "In season 1, we had lots of games like Tug of War that really utilised height and the fear that this height gives, but in the case of season 2, we didn't have that element. That is why in season 3, I decided to introduce games that could really infuse fear in people with sheer height." Hwang confirms that 'this is the end' The director confirmed that this season will be the end of every player's story on 'Squid Games'. He detailed that 'In the case of season 3, I wanted to take a slightly different approach — I wanted to focus on how [people] have to preserve their humanity amidst this intense competition in this capitalistic era. I wanted to focus on how we can preserve our sense of humanity and how we should remain humans even amidst this intense competition. I try to pose that as a final question." Fans will not have to wait that long, for the 3rd and final season of 'Squid Games' will officially be out on June 27 this month.
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Tempest returns with fresh, spring vibe
Capturing the refreshing vibe of spring, six-member group is back with 'Re: Full of Youth.' After navigating a stormy journey, Tempest has returned with a refreshing spring melody, showcasing its growth. Debuting in March 2022, the group released its fifth EP, 'Tempest Voyage,' in March last year, wrapping up its intense and charismatic "Storm Trilogy.' This time, the group has embraced the growth and achievements discovered while weathering the storm. 'The previous series revolved around the themes of sailing and storms, so we wanted this album to reflect what we gained at the end of that journey. We believe that both the rough waves and the beautiful moments we encountered during our voyage are all part of youth, which is why we chose 'youth' as the theme,' shared Hyuk. The new EP 'Re: Full of Youth' captures freedom, love and the determination to achieve one's dreams. The album features five tracks, including the lead track 'Unfreeze,' which portrays the heart-throbbing emotions of love, and the prerelease track 'Come Back Home,' a groovy alternative R&B song. 'The first keyword we decided on when preparing this album was 'Re.' We often say, 'Let's try again, we can do it.' When we face limitations and overcome them, all of those moments define our youth. This time, we wanted to naturally and comfortably express our spirit of challenge and positivity,' explained Lew, the leader of Tempest. Lew, who has consistently participated in lyric writing, contributed to the lyrics of the B-side track, 'Only U Can,' a sentimental guitar-driven song dedicated to the group's fans. 'As we enter our fourth year since debut, there were undoubtedly tough times when we felt exhausted, but we wanted to express our gratitude to our fans, who have given us strength to come this far.' The members also contributed creative ideas to the album's design, Lew explained. When asked about its 1-year hiatus, Tempest reflected on its participation in Mnet's boy group survival show, 'Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace,' which aired from September to November, calling it one of the most significant experiences for the group. 'Competing in the survival program gave us a new perspective on the people around us. We grew more appreciative of our staff, fans and members, communicated more with our company and became more relaxed on stage,' said Hyuk. 'We broadened our perspective by experimenting with diverse stage performances. I also believe we overcame our fears and achieved growth on multiple levels,' said Hyeongseop. Throughout the press conference, the members radiated positive energy with their bright smiles. 'If someone asks us when youth is, we would confidently say, 'It's right now,'' said Lew.
South China Morning Post
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
North Korean defectors set for historic K-pop music debut with 1Verse
K-pop's newest idol group, 1Verse, is set to make history as the first to feature two North Korean defectors, Hyuk and Seok. Advertisement The performers have endured a long journey from North Korea to their music debut in South Korea's global K-pop industry. The five-member group also includes a Chinese-American, a Lao-Thai-American and a Japanese performer.
Jordan Times
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Jordan Times
Forbidden K-pop to centre stage: North Koreans set for music debut
SEOUL — Growing up in North Korea, Hyuk's childhood was about survival. He never listened to banned K-pop music but, after defecting to the South, he's about to debut as an idol. Hyuk is one of two young North Koreans in a new K-pop band called 1Verse -- the first time that performers originally from the nuclear-armed North have been trained up for stardom in South Korea's global K-pop industry. Before he was 10, Hyuk -- who like many K-pop idols now goes by one name -- was skipping school to work on the streets in his native North Hamgyong province and admits he "had to steal quite a bit just to survive". "I had never really listened to K-pop music", he told AFP, explaining that "watching music videos felt like a luxury to me". "My life was all about survival", he said, adding that he did everything from farm work to hauling shipments of cement to earn money to buy food for his family. But when he was 13, his mother, who had escaped North Korea and made it to the South, urged him to join her. He realised this could be his chance to escape starvation and hardship, but said he knew nothing about the other half of the Korean Peninsula. "To me, the world was just North Korea -- nothing beyond that," he told AFP. His bandmate, Seok, also grew up in the North -- but in contrast to Hyuk's hardscrabble upbringing, he was raised in a relatively affluent family, living close to the border. As a result, even though K-pop and other South Korean content like K-dramas are banned in the North with harsh penalties for violators, Seok said "it was possible to buy and sell songs illegally through smugglers". Thanks to his older sister, Seok was listening to K-pop and even watching rare videos of South Korean artists from a young age, he told AFP. "I remember wanting to imitate those cool expressions and styles -- things like hairstyles and outfits," Seok told AFP. Eventually, when he was 19, Seok defected to the South. Six years later, he is a spitting image of a K-Pop idol. Star quality Hyuk and Seok were recruited for 1Verse, a new boy band and the first signed to smaller Seoul-based label Singing Beetle by the company's CEO Michelle Cho. Cho was introduced to both of the young defectors through friends. Hyuk was working at a factory when she met him, but when she heard raps he had written she told AFP that she "knew straight away that his was a natural talent". Initially, he "professed a complete lack of confidence in his ability to rap", Cho said, but she offered him free lessons and then invited him to the studio, which got him hooked. Eventually, "he decided to give music a chance", she said, and became the agency's first trainee. In contrast, Seok "had that self-belief and confidence from the very beginning", she said, and lobbied hard to be taken on. When Seok learned that he would be training alongside another North Korean defector, he said it "gave me the courage to believe that maybe I could do it". 'We're almost there' The other members of 1Verse include a Chinese-American, a Lao-Thai American and a Japanese dancer. The five men in their 20s barely speak each other's languages. But Hyuk, who has been studying English, says it doesn't matter. "We're also learning about each other's cultures, trying to bridge the gaps and get closer little by little," he said. "Surprisingly, we communicate really well. Our languages aren't perfectly fluent, but we still understand each other. Sometimes, that feels almost unbelievable." Aito, the Japanese trainee who is the main dancer in the group, said he was "fascinated" to meet his North Korean bandmates. "In Japan, when I watched the news, I often saw a lot of international issues about defectors, so the overall image isn't very positive," he said. But Aito told AFP his worries "all disappeared" when he met Hyuk and Seok. And now, the five performers are on the brink of their debut. It's been a long road from North Korea to the cusp of K-pop stardom in the South for Hyuk and Seok -- but they say they are determined to make 1Verse a success. "I really want to move someone with my voice. That feeling grows stronger every day," said Seok. Hyuk said being part of a real band was a moving experience for him. "It really hit me, like wow, we're almost there."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Forbidden K-pop to centre stage: North Koreans set for music debut
Growing up in North Korea, Hyuk's childhood was about survival. He never listened to banned K-pop music but, after defecting to the South, he's about to debut as an idol. Hyuk is one of two young North Koreans in a new K-pop band called 1Verse -- the first time that performers originally from the nuclear-armed North have been trained up for stardom in South Korea's global K-pop industry. Before he was 10, Hyuk -- who like many K-pop idols now goes by one name -- was skipping school to work on the streets in his native North Hamgyong province and admits he "had to steal quite a bit just to survive". "I had never really listened to K-pop music", he told AFP, explaining that "watching music videos felt like a luxury to me". "My life was all about survival", he said, adding that he did everything from farm work to hauling shipments of cement to earn money to buy food for his family. But when he was 13, his mother, who had escaped North Korea and made it to the South, urged him to join her. He realised this could be his chance to escape starvation and hardship, but said he knew nothing about the other half of the Korean peninsula. "To me, the world was just North Korea -- nothing beyond that," he told AFP. His bandmate, Seok, also grew up in the North -- but in contrast to Hyuk's hardscrabble upbringing, he was raised in a relatively affluent family, living close to the border. As a result, even though K-pop and other South Korean content like K-dramas are banned in the North with harsh penalties for violators, Seok said "it was possible to buy and sell songs illegally through smugglers". Thanks to his older sister, Seok was listening to K-pop and even watching rare videos of South Korean artists from a young age, he told AFP. "I remember wanting to imitate those cool expressions and styles -- things like hairstyles and outfits," Seok told AFP. Eventually, when he was 19, Seok defected to the South. Six years later, he is a spitting image of a K-Pop idol. - Star quality - Hyuk and Seok were recruited for 1Verse, a new boy band and the first signed to smaller Seoul-based label Singing Beetle by the company's CEO Michelle Cho. Cho was introduced to both of the young defectors through friends. Hyuk was working at a factory when she met him, but when she heard raps he had written she told AFP that she "knew straight away that his was a natural talent". Initially, he "professed a complete lack of confidence in his ability to rap", Cho said, but she offered him free lessons and then invited him to the studio, which got him hooked. Eventually, "he decided to give music a chance", she said, and became the agency's first trainee. In contrast, Seok "had that self-belief and confidence from the very beginning", she said, and lobbied hard to be taken on. When Seok learned that he would be training alongside another North Korean defector, he said it "gave me the courage to believe that maybe I could do it". - 'We're almost there' - The other members of 1Verse include a Chinese-American, a Lao-Thai American and a Japanese dancer. The five men in their 20s barely speak each other's languages. But Hyuk, who has been studying English, says it doesn't matter. "We're also learning about each other's cultures, trying to bridge the gaps and get closer little by little," he said. "Surprisingly, we communicate really well. Our languages aren't perfectly fluent, but we still understand each other. Sometimes, that feels almost unbelievable." Aito, the Japanese trainee who is the main dancer in the group, said he was "fascinated" to meet his North Korean bandmates. "In Japan, when I watched the news, I often saw a lot of international issues about defectors, so the overall image isn't very positive," he said. But Aito told AFP his worries "all disappeared" when he met Hyuk and Seok. And now, the five performers are on the brink of their debut. It's been a long road from North Korea to the cusp of K-pop stardom in the South for Hyuk and Seok -- but they say they are determined to make 1Verse a success. "I really want to move someone with my voice. That feeling grows stronger every day," said Seok. Hyuk said being part of a real band was a moving experience for him. "It really hit me, like wow, we're almost there." hs/ceb/tc/sco
