Actor Kang Ha Neul entertained fans with a fun behind-the-scenes story of filming the Netflix global hit Squid gamerevealing how he once found himself completely alone on set.
The actor appeared on MBC’s Oct. 15 episode Radio star as part of the “Box Office Lupine” special alongside Kim Young Kwang, Kang Young Seok and Kang Ji Young. During the show, host Kim Gook Jin teased Kang Ha Neul, asking: “Is it true that you were ostracized while filming Squid Game?”
Flustered, Kang quickly waved his hands and clarified: “No, that’s not true at all!” before explaining the real situation.
At the time, he was juggling filming Squid game and another film titled Yadang: The snitch. Kang shared, “Nowadays, due to the 12-hour filming regulation, if we start in the morning, we usually finish by 6 or 7 pm. I filmed Squid Game in the morning and Yadang: The Snitch at night sometimes, two or three times a week.”
He continued, “After we finished the night shoot, I slept about two hours on the way back to the Squid Game set. They said, ‘You’re not in this scene, but please stay nearby just in case.’ So I looked for a quiet corner on the set and found a bed to rest on.”
The actor described what happened next:
“I thought if anyone needed me, they would find me easily, so I took a nap. What I didn’t know was that the Squid Game set was under strict security measures: not even managers were allowed in, only actors and staff.”
“When I woke up, I thought my vision had gotten worse: it was pitch black! I waved my hand and saw him faintly in front of me. It turned out it was lunchtime and everyone had turned off the lights and left. The door was open, but I was left alone inside the set.” he recalled.
MC Kim Gura jokingly responded, “Did no one take care of Ha Neul? He’s usually known as a walking machine who does good deeds!” Kang Ha Neul responded modestly, “There was no reason for anyone to check on me.” earning laughter from the audience.
Kim Gook Jin then joked, “So you were seriously left out!” to which Kang ironically defended himself:
“No, it’s just that I hid myself too well to not be seen while I was sleeping!”
The anecdote quickly spread online, with fans praising Kang Ha Neul’s humility and work ethic, even in the face of grueling schedules.
Sources: born
