The “Squid Game” Effect — Season 1 Actors’ Social Media Following Then Vs Now
Squid Game’s second installment was released on Netflix on December 26, KST, creating a huge buzz on social media.
After the first season’s global success in 2021, the anticipation for season 2 was at an all-time high. Though it has garnered mixed responses from viewers and critics, the second season still managed to top the charts worldwide, setting a record.
Season 2’s performance has proven that the hype around Squid Game is something unprecedented. The same is reflected in the way the following of the first season’s cast members have grown since appearing in the show.
Recently, a netizen posted a compilation of how the following of the Squid Game 1 cast has shot up from the time before they appeared on the show to the early weeks of November, right before Seasons 2’s release. The numbers are as follows:
Jung Hoyeon
She went from 400,000 followers to 23.2 million!
Wi Ha Joon
The actor had 300,000 followers back in 2021 before Squid Game but now has 9.3 million of them!
Lee Yoo Mi
The actress went from 40,000 to 7 million!
Lee Jung Jae
The senior actor’s Instagram was launched in 2021. Over the years, he has grown his following to 4.6 million!
Park Hae Soo
Park also created his account around the time Squid Game was released. Now, he boasts 2.7 million followers.
Kim Joo Ryeong
She only had 400 followers in 2021 and now has a following of 2.3 million!
Heo Sung Tae
He went from 10,000 followers to 2.2 million!
While all these actors have done other successful projects following Squid Game that have contributed to their rising following, it is undeniable that the series catapulted them into fame like no other, giving them a much-needed headstart into the million followers club!
