Welcome back to a new season of “The Devil’s Plan,” the breakout Korean reality competition show, returning now with many famous faces. Netflix’s hit South Korean reality competition, “The Devil’s Plan,” officially returns for a second season, promising an even more intense and complex battle of wits. The first season quickly climbed Netflix’s global charts, becoming a worldwide success. This second season features contestants including fashion models, TV hosts, a K-Pop star, and even a Go player who managed to defeat Google’s AI. And let’s not forget a former Miss Korea.
Directed by acclaimed producer Jung Jong-hyun (often referred to as PD Jung), the mastermind behind hit Korean survival game shows like “The Genius” and “Great Escape,” “The Devil’s Plan” confines contestants from diverse professional backgrounds in an isolated environment for seven days. Cut off from the outside world, they compete in games testing logic, social strategy, and deception, all vying for a substantial cash prize and the title of the ultimate brain. The show’s unique blend of high-stakes mental warfare, cunning social maneuvering reminiscent of “Survivor,” and the pressure-cooker atmosphere of “Big Brother” resonated deeply with viewers. Now, with Season 2 of “The Devil’s Plan” (subtitled ‘Death Room’), the production team isn’t just offering more of the same; they’re signaling a significant evolution, aiming for a completely fresh and revamped Season 2.
Raising the Stakes: The ‘Death Room’ and an Expanded Battlefield
One of the most immediate changes signaling higher stakes in “The Devil’s Plan” is the expansion of the playing field. The contestant pool increases from 12 to 14 players. Departing from the unified residential space of Season 1, where the “Prison” was primarily a temporary holding area for players with the fewest ‘Pieces,’ Season 2 introduces a stark division: players will be split between a “Living Area” and a distinct “Prison Area” or “Prison Ward.” This physical separation is more than just a change of scenery. The Prison Area houses the ominous “Death Room,” a dedicated space where specific “Prison Matches” will occur. The Prison Ward transforms from a mere penalty box into a rival “class-based system.” While the confined might band together to challenge players residing in the main Living Area, they will simultaneously engage in a “fierce competition among themselves for survival and rank advancement” within the prison hierarchy. This intricate setup seems deliberately designed to foster more fluid and volatile social dynamics. It presents a stark contrast to Season 1, where large, stable alliances, like the notable “Orbit coalition” aimed at protecting weaker players, became a major talking point. The new Living/Prison division, coupled with the inherent internal conflict of “competitive collaboration,” is engineered to disrupt the formation of such dominant, long-lasting factions, encouraging more fragmented alliances and potentially more aggressive individual play.
The filming studio has expanded significantly, from approximately 21,500 square feet (600 pyeong) in Season 1 to roughly 35,880 square feet (1,000 pyeong) for Season 2. This larger space accommodates a set designed with a “medieval monastery” concept, intended to evoke a pre-modern, intense atmosphere fitting for a high-stakes survival game. Around 150 cameras, including fixed and ENG units, were employed to capture every strategic whisper and fleeting expression without disrupting the contestants’ immersion.
Assembling the Masterminds: A Galaxy of Competitors
Season 2 boasts a formidable lineup selected from over 1,000 applicants. The final roster blends high-profile celebrities with accomplished non-celebrities chosen through a highly competitive open recruitment process. Among the star participants generating significant buzz are:
- Lee Se-dol: A legendary professional Go player, world-renowned for achieving the only human victory against Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo AI.
- Justin H. Min: A Korean-American actor known for his roles in Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” and “Beef.” A Cornell University graduate.
- Kyuhyun: A member of the iconic K-pop group Super Junior and a familiar face on Korean variety shows, known for his wit.
- Chuu: A popular singer and vibrant TV/Internet personality, formerly of the girl group LOONA.
- Kang Ji-young: A former JTBC announcer who also holds a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
- Yoon So-hee: An actress with notable roles and an alumna of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), known for her intelligence.
Alongside them are other intriguing personalities from diverse fields, including professional poker player/music producer Seven High (7high), former Miss Korea (2022) and Korea University economics student Lee Seung-hyun, Seoul National University student and “Transit Love 2” participant Jung Hyun-gyu, and model/KAIST mathematical sciences student Choi Hyun-joon.
The non-celebrity contingent, selected through open casting to fill specific character archetypes and skill sets needed for the show’s dynamics, brings equally impressive credentials:
- Kim Ha-rin: A plastic surgeon from Yonsei University College of Medicine.
- Park Sang-yeon: A Yonsei University medical student, MENSA member, and Gold Medalist at the 51st International Physics Olympiad.
- Son Eun-yoo: An M&A lawyer and graduate of Ewha Womans University.
- Tino: The main host of the board game YouTube channel UZTV.
The Architect’s Vision: PD Jung Jong-hyun on Crafting Chaos
PD Jung Jong-hyun has implemented significant changes to the core game mechanics. Unlike Season 1, where game planning was handled internally, Season 2 incorporates a collaborative approach. The production team reached out to dedicated “game fanatics” from offline communities centered around PD Jung’s previous hit, “The Genius.” These enthusiasts formed teams and actively participated in the game development process, contributing roughly half of the games featured in the new season. PD Jung’s motivation for this was clear: a desire for novelty. Instead of the same old, tired games, you’ll see many fresh, new games this season. PD Jung also emphasized the sensitivity of game design, noting that “even slight rule changes can dramatically impact the entire game.” The psychological dimension, always central to “The Devil’s Plan,” appears amplified in Season 2. Contestant Chuu echoed this intensity, admitting she felt scared by the competitive atmosphere between the living and prison blocks but tried to project toughness.
The Countdown Begins: Release Schedule
Following the pattern set by the first season and other Netflix releases, the 12-episode season will drop in batches over three consecutive weeks:
- Episodes 1–4: Available May 6, 2025
- Episodes 5–9: Available May 13, 2025
- Episodes 10–12: Available May 20, 2025
This release strategy allows viewers to digest the complex games and evolving alliances while building anticipation between batches.
Where to Watch “The Devil’s Plan”
