Lee Dong Wook promises blockbuster return of 'A Shop for Killers' during season 2 premiere press conference

Lee Dong Wook and Kim Hye Jun are returning for bloody revenge in the long-awaited second season of 'A Shop for Killers.'

Disney+ original series 'A Shop for Killers' returns with Season 2 after a two-year hiatus. Returning cast members Lee Dong Wook, Kim Hye Jun, Jo Han Sun, and Geum Hae Na reunited for another chapter, promising even more intense action. New cast members Jung Yoon Ha, Hyunri, and Masaki Okada also joined the series as key figures in the global organization Babylon. The long-standing war between Murthehelp and Babylon is set to reignite. The central theme of Season 2 is growth. The story follows Jung Ji An (played by Kim Hye Jun) as she matures into a stronger leader through repeated battles for survival and revenge. Alongside larger-scale action sequences, the new season places greater emphasis on her personal journey.

The production team held a press conference on the morning of July 20 at Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Attendees included Lee Dong Wook, Kim Hye Jun, Jo Han Sun, Geum Hae Na, Kim Min, Jung Yoon Ha, Hyunri, Masaki Okada, and director Lee Kwon. Season 2 continues the action-packed story as Jung Ji An, now the new head of Murderhelp, reunites with Jung Jin Man (played by Lee Dong Wook), who unexpectedly returns alive. Together, they launch a full-scale counterattack against Babylon. The first season earned widespread international acclaim, including recognition by The New York Times as one of the best international TV shows and being named among TIME's Top 4 Korean Dramas of the Year. Its stylish action sequences also sparked what fans dubbed the "Jung Jin Man syndrome."

"I've always liked the phrase, 'Every attack has a counterattack,'" director Lee Kwon said. "As I thought about how to answer the questions left behind in Season 1, Season 2 naturally came together."

Rather than closely following the original novel 'A Shop For Killers,' the new season expands its own story. "We started by asking what kind of organization Babylon really is and why they targeted Jung Jin Man," Lee Dong Wook explained. "Season 2 expands Babylon's world much further." Lee Dong Wook reprises his role as Jung Jin Man, a former Babylon mercenary and the founder of Murderhelp. He once again risks his life to protect his niece Ji An from Babylon. "I'm honored and happy to play Jung Jin Man again," Lee Dong Wook said. "Season 2 was only possible because of all the love Season 1 received. I'm truly grateful to the viewers." Season 1 ended with Jin Man's apparent death. However, Season 2 reveals that he had staged his death. While Ji An struggles to protect Murderhelp, the series also uncovers where Jin Man has been and what he has been doing. "In Season 1, my relationship with the younger Ji An was the focus," Lee Dong Wook explained. "This time, you'll see Jin Man emotionally connect and clash with the adult Ji An as they build a new relationship."

Kim Hye Jun returns as Jung Ji An, now the leader of Murthehelp. Having survived Babylon's attack, she no longer runs away and instead fights back against the assassins pursuing her. While Season 1 centered on Ji An's fight for survival after being thrown into the world of killers, Season 2 explores her growing sense of responsibility and leadership as the head of Murderhelp. "In Season 1, my only goal was survival," Kim Hye Jun said. "This time, Ji An refuses to remain a victim. Unlike the first season, which focused on hand-to-hand combat, I trained extensively for gun action."

She added, "At first, Ji An couldn't understand her uncle, but as she gradually becomes more like him, she begins to understand him. That emotional transformation is one of the most important aspects of Season 2." The cast admitted that following up the successful first season came with considerable pressure.

"I still feel the pressure of making Season 2 even better than Season 1," Lee Dong Wook confessed. "Otherwise, I don't think there would have been any reason to make a second season." He added, "Every actor brings their own unique action style to their character. The story unfolds naturally within a carefully built world, and I believe viewers will be fully immersed." Director Lee Kwon also highlighted what distinguishes the series from other action productions. "There are certainly many action series out there, but the core of our story is how Jung Ji An grows as a person," he said. "The key is watching her become an adult through survival and retaliation. Every action sequence exists to support that journey." 'A Shop for Killers' Season 2 premieres on July 22 with Episodes 1 and 2. Two new episodes will be released every Wednesday thereafter.