"It's not dead, Jung Jin-man." Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun in 'Kill Show 2': Counterattack and Growth [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Every attack has a counterattack."

The "Mall of Killers," which received love from around the world, returns with Season 2 featuring bigger action and an expanded worldview.

On the 20th, a press conference for the Disney+ original series "Killers' Mall Season 2" was held at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Kwon and actors Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-jun, Jo Han-sun, Geum Hae-na, Kim Min, Jung Yoon-ha, Hyunri, and Masaki Okada attended the event and shared various stories.

"Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2" is a stylish action series in which Ji-an (played by Kim Hye-jun), who has taken over as the new CEO of the shopping mall after completing a ruthless handover, launches a full-scale counterattack alongside Jin-man (played by Lee Dong-wook), who has returned from the dead, against the global forces of Babylon.

Disney+'s original series "The Killer's Mall," which sparked a global phenomenon by being named one of the "Best International TV Shows" selected by The New York Times in 2024 and included in Time magazine's "Top 4 Korean Dramas of the Year," received an overwhelming surge of requests for a second season at the time. Riding on this support, "The Killer's Mall Season 2" is set to captivate global audiences once again with an expanded world of killers, evolved action sequences, and a story that has deepened by another level.

Manager Lee Gwon identified "counterattack" as the keyword running through this season. He stated, "I have liked the phrase 'every attack has a counterattack' since I was young," and added, "Since Season 1 ended leaving many questions, we expanded on the story while contemplating how to resolve those uncertainties."

He added, "While Season 1 shares similarities with the original work, it adapted several settings. As a result, Season 2 unfolds as a separate narrative from the original." He explained that the story begins with questions left unresolved in Season 1, such as "What organization is Babylon?" and "Why does it target only Jeong Jin-man?" In the process of resolving these questions, the worldview and narrative naturally had to expand.

Lee Dong-wook, who shockingly colored the ending of Season 1, announces a glamorous comeback as "Jin-man," who has returned from death.

Lee Dong-wook, when asked about his feelings on returning for season 2, said, "Rather than me directly feeling it, the fact that season 2 was produced itself seems to mean that season 1 has been recognized." He added, "I am happy that Kim Hae-na and Kim Min have had the opportunity to become known to more people."

He added, "I felt that if I just defended, it would never end, so I launched a counterattack with the mindset of bringing it to a close," and noted, "Although there was more content in Season 1 compared to the previous season, we filmed diligently as usual."

In addition, Lee Dong-wook said about the key points to watch in Season 2, "At the end of Season 1, 'Jung Jin-man' appeared and left a reaction of 'He's not dead,' but Season 2 begins with what Jung Jin-man was doing while Jung Ji-an guarded the house," and confidently added, "I am confident that we will be able to meet the expectations of many people."

He added, "In Season 1, we showed a lot of chemistry with the young 'Jung Ji-an,' but in Season 2, the focus will be on the emotional exchanges with Ms. Kim Hye-jun." He continued, "After 'Jung Ji-an' steps into this world, the important story lies in the process of them talking to each other, clashing, and confronting one another about how to help her niece survive. We hope you look forward to that part."

Kim Hye-jun is also set to vividly portray the transformation of "Jian," who grew from an ordinary college student into the new CEO of a shopping mall. Despite wanting to return to an ordinary life, Jian awakens the instincts of a killer in the face of an unavoidable fate. Jian's growth alongside his uncle "Jin-man," who has returned alive, to confront a massive enemy is a key viewing point for Season 2.

He stated, "In Season 2, I am under attack but will not be defeated; instead, I will launch a counterattack to protect those around me. While I showcased bare-knuckle action and Muay Thai in Season 1, I plan to present gun-fueled action in Season 2," expressing his expectations.

In Season 1, Jo Han-seon, who showcased a groundbreaking transformation in acting as the cruel villain 'Veil', returns having turned even darker with deepened vengeance.

Jo Han-seon said, "Since the Season 1 premiere, everyone I meet has told me it's 'scary,' and since I receive so much criticism, I feel that things are going well." He added, "It was too ruthless, so I think I will receive a lot of criticism again this time."

He added, "If he was a villain who injected tension in Season 1, you can see him in Season 2 as a villain who looks only at one spot and runs forward like Gyeongju-ma."

S-class killer "Min-hye" actress Geum Hae-na once again plays the role of a reliable support for "Jin-man" and "Ji-an," while Kim Min, who portrays "Pa-shin," the strongest force of Murder Help, is set to further enhance the series' entertainment value.

Geum Hae-na explained, "In Season 1, I had nothing to protect, so I fought with my life. In Season 2, I have something to protect, so I fight giving my life. It seems I performed a lot of various action scenes, and in Season 2, I plan to showcase action scenes involving motorcycles; I even obtained a motorcycle license and learned some stunts by watching YouTube on my own."

Kim Min-eun, who delivered a memorable performance in Season 1 that sparked confusion about her being Thai, stated, "In Season 2, we will perform action scenes in much more diverse spaces. With taekwondo, wrestling, muay thai, and various other action elements combined, there will be even more to see."

Jung Yun-ha, who took on the role of 'Kusanagi', the East Asia division chief of Babylon, explained that "'Kusanagi' is a complete result-oriented person. He felt like an outsider who belonged to neither Koreans nor Japanese people, and nowhere within the organization. It seems that the sense of inferiority manifested as a competitive drive to win."

Director Lee Gwon said, "He is an actor with a very kind personality who struggled greatly by taking on a ruthless character. Although we made things difficult for each other, I feel very good that it was completed as a great character."

Actor Hyunri took on the role of 'Q', a Babylon East Asia agent, while Masaki Okada portrayed 'J', an ace mercenary, completing a fresh and intriguing lineup.

Hyun-ri introduced her character as "a woman who is internally multifaceted like a chameleon," adding that in Season 2, she will appear in completely different ways for each mission.

He added, "Externally, I gained about 5 kilograms, focusing mainly on muscle mass. Since this was my first action film, I spent three to four months preparing while shuttling between Japan and Korea." He continued, "The day before filming the first action scene, the rehearsal was so thrilling and fun that I couldn't sleep a wink and went straight to the set. After finishing the shoot, the martial arts director told me, 'You have crossed the river. You can never return.' Having performed the action scenes myself, I felt an adrenaline rush and a surge of dopamine. I want to take on this challenge once again," revealing his deep affection for action work.

In response, Director Lee Kwon said, "Actor Hyun-ri worked out very hard in a short period of time for this production. She put in great effort to bring out the charm of her chameleon-like character." He added, "Both Hyun-ri and Masaki Okada reside in Japan, making it difficult to have many pre-production conversations, but they communicated sufficiently on set and developed strong chemistry."

Masaki Okada expressed his feelings, saying, "This is my first time participating in a Korean production, and I am delighted to be part of 'The Mall: The Killer's Shop,' which has been loved by many people. It was a joy to film alongside many senior actors, and I ask for your continued support for Season 2."

Regarding the role of "J," he stated, "He is a man who is extremely curious, possessing both maturity and childishness. This drama marked his first time filming full-scale action scenes. Actors including Lee Dong-wook and many others showed him the fun of action, teaching him that it involves not just movement but also dialogue, making it an incredibly precious opportunity."

Finally, Lee Dong-wook stated, "It is true that I started with the burden of having to do better and more fun than Season 1," adding, "I did my best and prepared diligently."

Continuing, "'Mall of Killers' will not only feature the protagonist but also many characters showcasing actions imbued with their own unique personalities. This point will serve as a differentiating factor," he confidently added, stating, "Since the story unfolds within a well-constructed world-building, viewers will be able to immerse themselves even more."

He also expressed his affection, saying, "Personally, I like 'Killers' Mall' because it allows me to share the burden with my colleagues more than in other works."

Amid the successive box office successes of action genre works such as Netflix's "True Education" and SBS's "Manager Kim," he also revealed what sets "Mall of Killers 2" apart. He stated, "I believe it is good for genres to succeed together, just as a food alley thrives collectively," adding, "It seems we are in an era where many people seek catharsis."

He added, "'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' is a project that was planned and prepared two years ago after the end of Season 1," and said, "Please consider it as a work that has consistently continued what we have always done, rather than one that simply followed trends."

Director Lee Kwon also stated, "Our work features a lot of action, but the most important thread is how a child named 'Jung Ji-an' grows up. It is the process of this child named 'Jung Ji-an' becoming an adult through survival and counterattack. The process of growing into an adult is not smooth, and action is designed for that process," conveying the distinction.

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*This content was translated by AI.