'Squid Game 2' music director says he had no idea that the Korean children's song "Round and Round" would go viral worldwide

The Korean children’s song “Round and Round” (Donggeulge Donggeulge), featured prominently in 'Squid Game' Season 2, has become a viral sensation after being remixed into an EDM track and played at an overseas nightclub.

A recent TikTok video captured a crowd dancing to the remixed version of “Round and Round” at a club. The DJ, identified as French, creatively transformed the cheerful melody into a high-energy club anthem, sparking widespread interest.

Jung Jae Il, the music director for 'Squid Game Season 2,' expressed both surprise and gratitude at the song’s unexpected global reception. "It’s truly amazing and humbling," he said in an interview shared by The Chosun Ilbo on January 16.

Jung Jae Il revealed that director Hwang Dong Hyuk had decided early on to use “Round and Round” in the game scenes. He explained, “The bright and innocent melody of the song was intended to contrast sharply with the betrayal and tension in those moments.”

To elevate the impact, Jung Jae Il added mechanical sounds to the arrangement, saying, “We wanted to go beyond simply using a familiar song. The goal was to heighten immersion and try something innovative.”

Season 2 not only introduces new music but also reimagines iconic tracks from Season 1. Jung Jae Il shared, “We wanted to convey warmth even amidst tragedy. For example, Shin Hae Chul’s ‘To You’ and Puccini’s ‘Nessun Dorma’ were selected by Director Hwang during the scriptwriting phase.”

Since its release on December 26, 'Squid Game Season 2' has been a global phenomenon. From January 6 to 12, it recorded 26.3 million viewing hours, claiming the top spot in Netflix’s Global Top 10 series rankings for both English and non-English categories. It also made the Top 10 list in 93 countries for five consecutive days, earning overwhelming acclaim worldwide.

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