Jo Yuri Expresses Gratitude to Her Supporters for Squid Game 2

On the morning of January 9, Jo Yuri, one of the cast members of Netflix's original series "Squid Game" Season 2(hereafter referred to as "Squid Game 2"), held an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

"Squid Game 2" follows the intense battle between Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the game seeking revenge, and the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun), as well as the restart of the deadly game that captivated the world.

Jo Yuri plays Jun-hee, Player 222, a character who loses a fortune after falling for false investment information.

During the interview, Jo Yuri shared her passion for acting, which started in high school when she joined the drama club. "I've always dreamed of acting, and I had this desire to perform freely when I went solo," she said.

She also revealed that she shares a connection with SNL Korea's Yoon Ga-i, as they both hail from the same high school drama club. "She was my first acting mentor," Jo Yuri said. "Ga-i unnie was a senior when I was a freshman. We did plays together, and I learned so much from her."

Expressing her gratitude, Jo Yuri added, "While watching 'Squid Game,' Ga-i unnie kept sending me messages like, 'This is great,' and 'It feels amazing to see you there.' I really appreciated her reaching out like that. It gave me a lot of strength."

Jo Yuri, who debuted as a member of IZ*ONE through Mnet's "Produce 48" in 2018, shared her gratitude toward her former groupmates for their continued support. Although IZ*ONE officially disbanded in 2021, the bond between the members remains strong.

After landing a role in "Squid Game 2," Jo Yuri revealed that she received plenty of congratulatory messages from her fellow IZ*ONE members. "They were all so kind. They sent me photos, saying things like, 'We're starting the binge-watch now!' It really meant a lot to me," she said with a smile.

She expressed how much those messages touched her, saying, "In the past, I used to wonder if things like that would really help, but now I realize how precious and heartwarming it is to receive those messages. I truly felt the importance of our members again. They're busy, so we haven't had a chance to meet yet, but I'm planning to treat them to a meal soon."

When asked which members give her the most feedback, Jo Yuri pointed to Yena and Minju. "They're the ones who tend to comment the most," she said. "Their feedback isn't anything too deep, but they'll say things like, 'That was great,' or 'I liked the vibe.' Yena unnie jokingly told me, 'Since you've done Squid Game, you owe me a meal.' We've been keeping in touch a lot."

Jo Yuri also shared a special moment with Wonyoung, who reached out to congratulate her. "Wonyoung messaged me saying, 'I saw the news! What's going on? That's amazing. Congratulations!' Her words made me think that I really need to be a better friend to my members. We talk in our group chat, but they also send me more personal messages to congratulate me privately," she said, laughing.

When asked if she received any advice from Kang Hye-won, who worked with Yim Si-wan in Coupang Play's "Boyhood," Jo Yuri explained that they hadn't had a chance to discuss it yet. "Hye-won unnie has been busy, so we haven't talked about acting. I did want to ask her about it, but before I could, I ended up meeting Si-wan oppa myself," she said with a playful grin.

Jo Yuri's close ties with her former IZ*ONE members and her enthusiasm for acting show that she's not only making strides in her career but also cherishing the friendships that helped her along the way.