Netflix’s buzzworthy hit is making waves again as actress Youn Yuh-jung personally persuaded Song Kang-ho to join the cast.
On the 7th, a virtual press conference was held for the Netflix series Beef Season 2 (hereafter Beef 2). Director Lee Sung Jin, who helms the season, said, "This time, I wanted to infuse many more distinctly Korean elements," explaining that after Season 1’s success, he drew on his experience peeking into the lives of Korea’s upper class and reflected that in Season 2.
He continued, "Since we’d come this far, we set an even bigger goal and reached out to the most capable actors on the planet, Ms. Youn Yuh-jung and Mr. Song Kang-ho," revealing the casting backstory. In particular, Youn’s persuasion was decisive in getting Song onboard. Director Lee said that when the script was first delivered, Song initially declined, but Youn called him directly, saying, "You’re Song Kang-ho. You can do any role," which ultimately convinced him to appear.
Beef, which sharply captured modern people’s emptiness and anger and earned both critical acclaim and commercial success in Season 1, will expand its Korean elements this season as the story unfolds around the relationship between a boss and their subordinate.
Youn plays Chairwoman Park, the new owner of a country club, while Song appears as Dr. Kim, a world-renowned plastic surgeon—setting the stage for a tense showdown. A key draw will be Dr. Kim’s hand tremor that leads to a fatal mistake, and the fierce mind games swirling around it.
Beef 2 premieres on the 16th, diving into a ruthless power struggle among the privileged and the ultra-wealthy.