Squid Game Season 2: Bigger Scale, Bolder Locations
Squid Game Season 2 arrived on Netflix on December 26, 2024, and the anticipation was immense. After Season 1 became the most-watched series in Netflix history, expectations for the follow-up were sky-high — and director Hwang Dong-hyuk responded by expanding the scope of the story in every dimension. The returning cast features Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, now driven by a burning mission to infiltrate and destroy the games from within, alongside Lee Byung-hun as the enigmatic Front Man, Wi Ha-jun as the undercover police officer Hwang Jun-ho, and Gong Yoo reprising his role as the mysterious recruiter. A roster of compelling new players joins the deadly competition, raising the emotional stakes even higher.
The season picks up with Gi-hun's return to Korea after abandoning his flight at the end of Season 1. Haunted by what he survived and furious at the system that continues to operate, he embarks on a dangerous plan to re-enter the games — this time not to win, but to bring the entire operation down. What makes Season 2 particularly significant in the franchise's arc is that it was filmed consecutively with Season 3 over the course of a full year, beginning in July 2023. This back-to-back production approach allowed the creative team to plan a unified visual and narrative vision across both seasons, ensuring continuity in performances, set design, and tonal escalation.
Behind the Scenes
The production design of Season 2 represents a dramatic evolution from the first season's already distinctive visual language. Production designers drew heavy inspiration from the works of Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, creating maze-like corridors that seem to fold in on themselves, with impossible angles and disorienting perspectives that reflect the psychological trap the players find themselves in. These corridors are intentionally taller and wider than those in Season 1, amplifying the feeling of being lost in an inescapable system.
The game facility interiors were constructed at Daejeon Studio Cube, located within the Daejeon Expo Science Park complex, which offered the massive floor space required for the season's increasingly elaborate game arenas. The dormitory set features fluorescent OX markings on the floor, bathed in alternating red and blue LED lighting that heightens visual tension during the voting sequences. For exterior shots of the game island, the production used Seongapdo, a privately owned crescent-shaped island off the coast of Incheon. Its hauntingly isolated silhouette against the open sea perfectly captures the feeling of being stranded beyond the reach of civilization. The yearlong filming schedule with Season 3 allowed the team to shoot across all four seasons, giving the series a richer visual palette than any single production window could provide.
Filming Location Travel Guide
Several key Season 2 locations are easily accessible to visitors in the Seoul metropolitan area. Start at Tapgol Park in the heart of Jongno, where Gong Yoo's recruiter character returns to find new players among the park's elderly and homeless visitors. From Jongno 3-ga Station (Line 1), Exit 1, the park entrance is just a 3-minute walk — you can practically see it from the station exit. This historic park, home to Korea's oldest surviving pagoda, takes on an entirely different atmosphere once you have seen the recruitment scene filmed here.
Next, head south to Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, where new characters Park Gyeong-seok and Kang No-eul are introduced. Take Subway Line 4 to Seoul Grand Park Station and follow signs from Exit 2 — the park entrance is a 5-minute walk. The sprawling complex includes a zoo, botanical garden, and theme park, and its vast scale provides a stark contrast to the claustrophobic game arenas. For a more dramatic pilgrimage, Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 is where Season 2 opens with Gi-hun's pivotal decision to abandon his flight and return. Reach it via the AREX (Airport Railroad Express) from Seoul Station in about 43 minutes. The departures hall where the scene was filmed is freely accessible. Note that Seongapdo Island is private property and not accessible to the public — enjoy its striking appearance on screen, but plan your visit around the three accessible locations instead.
Fan Pilgrimages
Tapgol Park has become the epicenter of Season 2 fan tourism, drawing visitors from around the world who come to stand in the exact spot where the recruiter's ddakji game plays out. The park's elderly regulars have grown accustomed to international visitors snapping photos among the historic stone monuments. What makes the park visit particularly rewarding is its layers of meaning: beyond the Squid Game connection, Tapgol Park is where Korea's March 1st Independence Movement began in 1919, adding historical depth to the visit.
Seoul Grand Park offers a natural combo destination, especially for families. Fans can explore the filming locations and then spend the rest of the day at the zoo or the adjacent Seoul Land amusement park. At Incheon Airport, visitors have been photographing themselves in the departures hall, recreating Gi-hun's dramatic about-face. On social media, hashtags like #SquidGame2, #SquidGameSeason2, and #TapgolPark have driven millions of impressions, with fan accounts cataloging exact camera angles and scene-matching photos.
Nearby Food & Attractions
Each filming location anchors a neighborhood rich with things to see and eat. From Tapgol Park, walk five minutes east to Ikseon-dong, Seoul's trendiest hanok village, where century-old traditional houses have been converted into artisan cafes, vintage shops, and fusion restaurants. The narrow alleyways and photogenic facades make it one of Seoul's most popular destinations for both locals and visitors. Try the neighborhood's signature scallion pancake or grab a matcha latte at one of the hanok rooftop cafes.
At Seoul Grand Park, beyond the filming locations, the Seoul Zoo houses over 3,000 animals across naturalistic habitats, and the park's botanical garden is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season. Pack a lunch or grab food from the convenience stores near the station — the park is large enough to fill an entire afternoon. At Incheon Airport, travelers can explore the terminal's extensive duty-free shopping, Korean cultural experience centers, and surprisingly good food courts featuring everything from bibimbap to premium Korean barbecue. For overnight stays, Jongno-gu hotels near Tapgol Park put you within walking distance of Ikseon-dong, Insadong, and Cheonggyecheon Stream, making it an ideal base for combining Squid Game tourism with broader Seoul exploration.
