'Killer's Shopping Mall' returns for its second season. Building on the questions left by the first season, 'Killer's Shopping Mall 2' introduces new characters and an expanded universe, focusing on a story of counterattack rather than defense.
On July 20, a production presentation for the Disney+ original series 'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' was held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Attendees included director Lee Kwon, along with actors Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-jun, Jo Han-sun, Geum Hae-na, Kim Min, Jeong Yoon-ha, Hyun Ri, and Okada Masaki.
'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' follows Jian, who has become the new head of the shopping mall after a harsh transfer of power, as she teams up with Jin-man, who has returned from the dead, to launch a full-scale counterattack against the Babylon global organization in this stylish action series.
The first season, released in 2024, received acclaim both domestically and internationally, being named one of the 'Best International TV Shows' by The New York Times and one of the 'Top 4 Korean Dramas of the Year' by Time magazine. The interest in the first season led to the production of the second season, which promises even more intense action and an expanded narrative.
Director Lee Kwon stated, "I have always liked the phrase, 'Every attack has a counterattack.' Since the first season ended with many questions, I thought about how to resolve those mysteries while expanding the story."
He added, "While Season 1 has similarities to the original work, several settings have been adapted. As a result, Season 2 unfolds in a separate flow from the original. The story begins with questions left from Season 1, such as 'What is the Babylon organization?' and 'Why is it targeting Jeong Jin-man?'"
Lee Dong-wook returns as Jin-man, who faked his death. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am honored and happy to continue playing Jeong Jin-man. The success of Season 1 made it possible for Season 2 to happen. Thank you to our viewers."
He mentioned the changes in Jin-man for Season 2, stating, "If we only defend, it seems like it will end. So, I am determined to take action. The action scenes have increased in volume compared to Season 1, but I filmed them diligently as before."
The mysteries surrounding Jin-man's survival revealed at the end of Season 1 will also be addressed in this season. Lee Dong-wook noted, "Season 2 starts with what Jin-man was doing while Jian was protecting the house. I believe we can meet the expectations of many viewers."
Kim Hye-jun, who plays Jian, Jin-man's niece and the new head of the shopping mall, will also showcase a stronger character. She stated, "In Season 2, I am not just being attacked; I am taking action to protect my surroundings. While I showed bare-handed action and Muay Thai in Season 1, I will be demonstrating gun action in Season 2."
The evolving relationship between Jin-man and Jian is also a key aspect of Season 2. Lee Dong-wook explained, "In Season 1, we showcased a lot of chemistry with the young Jian, but in Season 2, the emotional exchange with Kim Hye-jun will be central. The process of how Jian navigates this world and how they communicate and clash is an important story."
Kim Hye-jun added, "In Season 1, there weren't many scenes showing the current Jian and Jin-man together. In Season 2, I think we will be able to show action scenes together. There is also an emotional change where Jian, who couldn't understand her uncle, starts to resemble him and understand him at some point."
Jo Han-sun, who left a strong impression as the villain Veil in Season 1, returns with a deeper sense of vengeance. He remarked, "Since the opening of Season 1, many people have told me I was scary. I feel that I have succeeded as much as I have received criticism. I think I will receive a lot of criticism again this time."
Geum Hae-na, who played the S-class killer Min-hye, stated, "In Season 1, I fought with nothing to protect, but in Season 2, I have something to protect, so I will fight with my life on the line. I even got a motorcycle license for motorcycle action and learned action by watching YouTube."
Kim Min will portray the strongest force of Murder Help, Pashin. He said, "In Season 2, we will perform action in much more diverse settings. There will be a lot more to see as various action styles like Taekwondo, wrestling, and Muay Thai come together."
The addition of new characters also showcases the expansion of Season 2. Jeong Yoon-ha will play Kusunagi, the head of the East Asia branch of Babylon, while Hyun Ri will challenge her first action role as Q, the team leader of the East Asia branch.
Jeong Yoon-ha described Kusunagi as "a complete results-oriented person," adding, "I felt like an outsider who didn't belong to either Koreans or Japanese, or even within the organization. It seems that my inferiority complex manifested as a competitive spirit."
Hyun Ri expressed her excitement, saying, "I enjoyed watching Season 1 and had great respect for the staff and actors involved in this project. I approached it with a sense of responsibility." She continued, "As this is my first action project, I prepared for 3-4 months, going back and forth between Japan and Korea. Experiencing action firsthand was exhilarating, with adrenaline and dopamine rushing through me."
Okada Masaki joins the cast as Jay, an ace mercenary, marking his first appearance in a Korean production. He said, "I am happy to join the beloved 'Killer's Shopping Mall' for my first Korean project. This is also my first time filming serious action. It was a valuable opportunity to learn that it's not just about movement, but also about dialogue."
As action genre productions continue to succeed, the unique aspects of 'Killer's Shopping Mall 2' were highlighted. Lee Dong-wook remarked, "Just as food alleys thrive together, I think it's good for genres to do well together. It seems that many people are looking for catharsis in this era."
He added, "'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' has been in planning and preparation since two years after Season 1 ended. I hope you see it as a project that has consistently continued rather than one that follows trends."
Director Lee Kwon emphasized, "While our work features a lot of action, the most important thread is how the child Jian grows. It is a process of becoming an adult through survival and counterattack. The action is designed to support that process."
Finally, Lee Dong-wook acknowledged the pressure, saying, "It is true that I started with the burden of needing to do better and be more entertaining than Season 1. We prepared diligently to the best of our abilities." He concluded, "'Killer's Shopping Mall' showcases many characters presenting unique actions. That will be a differentiating point."
'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' will premiere on July 22 with the release of the first two episodes, followed by two episodes every Wednesday for a total of eight episodes.
On July 20, a production presentation for the Disney+ original series 'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' was held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Attendees included director Lee Kwon, along with actors Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-jun, Jo Han-sun, Geum Hae-na, Kim Min, Jeong Yoon-ha, Hyun Ri, and Okada Masaki.
'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' follows Jian, who has become the new head of the shopping mall after a harsh transfer of power, as she teams up with Jin-man, who has returned from the dead, to launch a full-scale counterattack against the Babylon global organization in this stylish action series.
The first season, released in 2024, received acclaim both domestically and internationally, being named one of the 'Best International TV Shows' by The New York Times and one of the 'Top 4 Korean Dramas of the Year' by Time magazine. The interest in the first season led to the production of the second season, which promises even more intense action and an expanded narrative.
Director Lee Kwon stated, "I have always liked the phrase, 'Every attack has a counterattack.' Since the first season ended with many questions, I thought about how to resolve those mysteries while expanding the story."
He added, "While Season 1 has similarities to the original work, several settings have been adapted. As a result, Season 2 unfolds in a separate flow from the original. The story begins with questions left from Season 1, such as 'What is the Babylon organization?' and 'Why is it targeting Jeong Jin-man?'"
Lee Dong-wook returns as Jin-man, who faked his death. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am honored and happy to continue playing Jeong Jin-man. The success of Season 1 made it possible for Season 2 to happen. Thank you to our viewers."
He mentioned the changes in Jin-man for Season 2, stating, "If we only defend, it seems like it will end. So, I am determined to take action. The action scenes have increased in volume compared to Season 1, but I filmed them diligently as before."
The mysteries surrounding Jin-man's survival revealed at the end of Season 1 will also be addressed in this season. Lee Dong-wook noted, "Season 2 starts with what Jin-man was doing while Jian was protecting the house. I believe we can meet the expectations of many viewers."
Kim Hye-jun, who plays Jian, Jin-man's niece and the new head of the shopping mall, will also showcase a stronger character. She stated, "In Season 2, I am not just being attacked; I am taking action to protect my surroundings. While I showed bare-handed action and Muay Thai in Season 1, I will be demonstrating gun action in Season 2."
The evolving relationship between Jin-man and Jian is also a key aspect of Season 2. Lee Dong-wook explained, "In Season 1, we showcased a lot of chemistry with the young Jian, but in Season 2, the emotional exchange with Kim Hye-jun will be central. The process of how Jian navigates this world and how they communicate and clash is an important story."
Kim Hye-jun added, "In Season 1, there weren't many scenes showing the current Jian and Jin-man together. In Season 2, I think we will be able to show action scenes together. There is also an emotional change where Jian, who couldn't understand her uncle, starts to resemble him and understand him at some point."
Jo Han-sun, who left a strong impression as the villain Veil in Season 1, returns with a deeper sense of vengeance. He remarked, "Since the opening of Season 1, many people have told me I was scary. I feel that I have succeeded as much as I have received criticism. I think I will receive a lot of criticism again this time."
Geum Hae-na, who played the S-class killer Min-hye, stated, "In Season 1, I fought with nothing to protect, but in Season 2, I have something to protect, so I will fight with my life on the line. I even got a motorcycle license for motorcycle action and learned action by watching YouTube."
Kim Min will portray the strongest force of Murder Help, Pashin. He said, "In Season 2, we will perform action in much more diverse settings. There will be a lot more to see as various action styles like Taekwondo, wrestling, and Muay Thai come together."
The addition of new characters also showcases the expansion of Season 2. Jeong Yoon-ha will play Kusunagi, the head of the East Asia branch of Babylon, while Hyun Ri will challenge her first action role as Q, the team leader of the East Asia branch.
Jeong Yoon-ha described Kusunagi as "a complete results-oriented person," adding, "I felt like an outsider who didn't belong to either Koreans or Japanese, or even within the organization. It seems that my inferiority complex manifested as a competitive spirit."
Hyun Ri expressed her excitement, saying, "I enjoyed watching Season 1 and had great respect for the staff and actors involved in this project. I approached it with a sense of responsibility." She continued, "As this is my first action project, I prepared for 3-4 months, going back and forth between Japan and Korea. Experiencing action firsthand was exhilarating, with adrenaline and dopamine rushing through me."
Okada Masaki joins the cast as Jay, an ace mercenary, marking his first appearance in a Korean production. He said, "I am happy to join the beloved 'Killer's Shopping Mall' for my first Korean project. This is also my first time filming serious action. It was a valuable opportunity to learn that it's not just about movement, but also about dialogue."
As action genre productions continue to succeed, the unique aspects of 'Killer's Shopping Mall 2' were highlighted. Lee Dong-wook remarked, "Just as food alleys thrive together, I think it's good for genres to do well together. It seems that many people are looking for catharsis in this era."
He added, "'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' has been in planning and preparation since two years after Season 1 ended. I hope you see it as a project that has consistently continued rather than one that follows trends."
Director Lee Kwon emphasized, "While our work features a lot of action, the most important thread is how the child Jian grows. It is a process of becoming an adult through survival and counterattack. The action is designed to support that process."
Finally, Lee Dong-wook acknowledged the pressure, saying, "It is true that I started with the burden of needing to do better and be more entertaining than Season 1. We prepared diligently to the best of our abilities." He concluded, "'Killer's Shopping Mall' showcases many characters presenting unique actions. That will be a differentiating point."
'Killer's Shopping Mall Season 2' will premiere on July 22 with the release of the first two episodes, followed by two episodes every Wednesday for a total of eight episodes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.