Park Jong Nam, a marketing firm team leader known as the “Gonggi Master,” has finally shared the secret he kept for a year about his role in the blockbuster Netflix series “Squid Game“ Season 2.
The Unexpected Call and Casting
Just two nights before his wedding in October 2023, Park received a call from the “Squid Game” production team. They had obtained his contact information through the producers of SBS’s “A Master of Living,” where Park had showcased his exceptional skills in the Korean children’s game, gong-gi.
The team was looking for a hand double for a scene involving actor Kang Ha Neul playing as Player 388, Kang Dae Ho, navigating through all five levels of gong-gi.
The Shoot and Celebrity Encounters
Park agreed to participate, traveling to Daejeon the day before his wedding. He signed numerous non-disclosure agreements upon arrival. Before the shoot, he shared a meal with some of the show’s stars including Lee Byung Hun, Lee Jung Jae, and Kang Ha Neul, along with the director and assistant director.
I went to Daejeon and signed numerous NDAs. They suggested having lunch first, so I followed them to a restaurant where I ended up eating with Lee Byung Hun, Lee Jung Jae, Kang Ha Neul, the director, and the assistant director who had contacted me. I couldn’t believe I was sharing a table with such famous actors in my lifetime…
— Park Jong Nam
Filming Experience
The actual filming was relatively smooth, requiring only a couple of takes. Park had to perform a one-take sequence from Level 1 through to the flips, which he managed to do without much difficulty, though he felt nervous participating in the six-legged race with the actors.
…It’s a shame I couldn’t take even one photo or get an autograph due to confidentiality rules. The shoot itself wasn’t difficult since I just had to do a one-take from Level 1 to the flips, but I was so nervous since I had to participate in the six-legged race with the actors. We finished in about two takes, much faster than I expected.
— Park Jong Nam
Kang Ha Neul’s Kindness
Park highlighted the kindness of Kang Ha Neul, who helped him relax and even asked for gong-gi lessons during the shoot. After filming, Kang gifted Park’s wife chive bread from Sung Sim Dang, illustrating his thoughtful nature.
Public Reveal
Park chose to reveal this experience on Instagram alongside the premiere of “Squid Game” Season 2 on December 26, 2024, expressing his hope for the show’s continued success and his enjoyment watching it with his wife.
Netflix Debut! Not as a squid, but as a hand double!
In October 2023, I got a call two days before my wedding. They said they got my contact info from the PD of ‘A Master of Living,’ and while they couldn’t reveal much, it was for a global streaming platform that needed a scene showing hands playing gong-gi. They asked if I could participate, but I’d have to travel to Daejeon.
Luckily, I had already taken the day off since it was the day before my wedding. So, I decided to do it. I was curious about what kind of gong-gi scene it would be. (At that time, I thought it might be something like a gong-gi game demo for ‘The Genius’ or something.)
The next day, I went to Daejeon, signed tons of NDAs, and went in. They suggested having lunch first, so I followed them to a restaurant. They suggested having lunch first, so I followed them to a restaurant where I ended up eating with Lee Byung Hun, Lee Jung Jae, Kang Ha Neul, the director, and the assistant director who had contacted me. I couldn’t believe I was sharing a table with such famous actors in my lifetime.
While we ate, we talked about how I came to the set despite my wedding being the next day, how I got so good at gong-gi, and they even congratulated me on my wedding. It’s a shame I couldn’t take even one photo or get an autograph because of the confidentiality rules.
The shoot itself wasn’t difficult since I just had to do a one-take from Level 1 to the flips, but I was so nervous since I had to participate in the six-legged race with the actors. We finished in about two takes, much faster than I expected.
What stood out was how Kang Ha Neul kept helping me relax before and after the shoot. He even asked me to teach him how to play gong-gi, so I showed him, and we even played jegi together. After the shoot, he gave me a box of Sung Sim Dang’s chive bread for my wife. Now I understand why everyone is in love with him.
Finally, after having kept it a secret for a year, I’m revealing this alongside the premiere of ‘Squid Game’ today! I had so much fun watching it with my wife. Since I’m part of the show and all, I really hope it becomes even more successful! Hwaiting, Squid Game!
SquidGame #GonggiMaster
— Park Jong Nam
Park Jong Nam‘s experience not only adds a unique layer to the behind-the-scenes of “Squid Game” Season 2 but also showcases the camaraderie among the cast and crew, making it a memorable moment in his life.
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