[Interview] Lee Sung-jin and Charles Melton of “BEEF” Season 2① “Season 2 continues the spirit of Season 1”

Ahead of the release of 〈BEEF〉 Season 2 on April 16, the show’s creator, director Lee Sung-jin, and lead actor Charles Melton shared remarks introducing the series to Korean viewers. In the video interview, which began warmly with the two exchanging Korean greetings, director Lee Sung-jin said that Season 2 is “a story that carries on the spirit of Season 1—a brother-like story.” If Season 1 of 〈BEEF〉 focused on Korean Americans, this installment takes on the identity of a person with mixed heritage and Korean roots. Even through video, we met the show’s two main stars and talked about the series and its characters. Continuing the world of 〈BEEF〉, which swept the globe and earned honors at major awards, Season 2 of 〈BEEF〉 depicts a tense game of persuasion and pressure among two couples and a Korean billionaire—the owner of the club—after a young couple witnesses a shocking dispute between their boss and his wife at a country club filled with the privileged.

Season 1 of 〈BEEF〉 was loved by people around the world and delivered great results. With Season 2 coming out, I’d like to start by asking how you’re feeling.

Lee Sung-jin Honestly, I’m really excited. We poured an enormous amount of effort into Season 2. In a way, it feels like we even put in more than we did for Season 1. We tried to understand what people loved about the existing 〈BEEF〉, and then build on it by offering more of those elements. I often think about the musicians I love. For example, when I think of Radiohead—their debut album was an incredible record—after that, people naturally had higher expectations: “Let’s see how amazing the second album is.” And it turned out the second album was even better. That’s what we’re hoping Season 2 will be like.

Most of all, because there are so many Korean elements this time, I’m looking forward to how audiences will perceive those parts. In Season 1, we focused on Korean American stories; for Season 2, I wanted to tell a story about mixed-heritage people with Korean roots, like Charles’ character. I wanted to show how they tug at their own identities—like a tug-of-war.

Charles Melton I’m also really excited. We shot in Korea, so I can definitely talk about Korean elements too—it felt like I was coming back to my hometown. When I was younger, I lived in Korea for about six years, and my mother is a Korean American immigrant. When I was 11, my mother got her U.S. citizenship for the first time. So, I’m deeply grateful to director Lee Sung-jin for writing a story about people born to Korean parents on one side and white people on the other—and I drew a lot of inspiration while working on it.

And I really love Korean films. I can list—endlessly—so many works I truly adore, like director Bong Joon-ho’s 〈Memories of Murder〉, 〈Mother〉, 〈Parasite〉, as well as director Park Chan-wook’s 〈Oldboy〉 and 〈Thirst〉. When I think about it, it feels like director Lee Sung-jin, in a way, is the artistic son of Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.

Lee Sung-jin You shouldn’t put it that way. That’s blasphemy… (laughs)

Charles Melton (laughs) When I think about it, director Lee Sung-jin seems like the person who brings Korean art to the West. So I don’t think there are limits to his art. I think he talks not only about identity, but also about humanity revealed through capitalism.

Season 1 and Season 2 of 〈BEEF〉 aren’t connected stories. Still, what are the shared points, or what do the two works have in common?

Lee Sung-jin Season 1 was the story of two people living lonely lives in a fairly isolated way. They were characters so lonely that they didn’t even have the motivation to live. But at the end, it’s almost like they found someone they could potentially share a life with—so the story closes with that feeling. I think Season 2 is a story that continues the spirit of Season 1—a brother-like story—because even though they find someone they feel they could live with, the question then becomes: what happens next. Finding someone is one thing, but living that life together isn’t easy. Especially in today’s world, where capitalism is so powerful, it’s even harder. It also captures the struggle—how people manage to keep going at all—in a situation where the social system itself puts a lot of pressure on the middle class.

Actor Charles Melton, this time you play Austin. I’d like to hear about the character—what drew you to it, and what made you decide to join the project?

Charles Melton Austin is a friend who really does touch something in me. When we first designed this character, my director and I discussed it together and brought it into focus. Austin is a very kind and hardworking friend. In this story, he explores not only how a relationship shifts as he enters a sweet period with his partner at the start of their romance, but also, as he gets closer to Korean people, he gradually rediscovers his Korean-rooted mixed identity. Through that process, he starts to realize that what he thought was his true identity might not be the whole story—and that, in fact, he’s been wearing a mask.

※ The 〈BEEF〉 Season 2 interview with Lee Sung-jin and Charles Melton continues with Part 2.