‘SQUID GAME’ MUSIC DIRECTOR REFLECTS ON CREATING G80 AD MUSIC
SEOUL, March 6, 2024 — Jaeil Jung, renowned for his work as the music director of the Netflix hit series "Squid Game" (2021) and Oscar-winning film "Parasite" (2019), has consistently blurred the boundaries of genre and form throughout his 20-year career.
From his early days in a rock band to collaborating with famed artists like Hyoshin Park and IU, one of Jung’s latest gigs was to compose the TV commercial background music for the redesigned G80.
During a recent interview at the Genesis Lounge in central Seoul, Jung shared insights about his creative journey and sources of musical inspiration.
How does it feel to see your international reputation soar due to the success of "Parasite" and "Squid Game"?
I still can’t believe [the “Parasite”] won the Academy Award. But full credit goes to the directors. My job was to simply discover the most fitting musical language. The success of these works has luckily given me a lot of opportunities, such as [my first album with the British record label] Decca, and a chance [to collaborate] with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s like I’ve opened a new chapter in my career.
When you released your first album last year, “List,” you said you wanted to take on new challenges. What has the past year been like for you?
I fortunately had numerous opportunities to collaborate with the classical music industry, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, of which I have over 300 album CDs at home. Despite classical music not being my field of expertise, I also collaborated with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. These experiences have broadened my perspective toward neo-classical music and orchestras, sparking a desire to delve deeper and expand my knowledge in these areas. This newfound interest has been the most significant shift for me in the last year.
You recently worked on the music for the G80 commercial. Was it your first venture into ad music?
I've been doing different advertisements since my 20s, but I think this was the first time working on such a large-scale ad encompassing a 30-second and 60-second USP [unique selling proposition].
How was it compared to your previous works?
I’m the type of person who finds composing four-minute K-pop songs challenging because I feel they’re too short [for my creative process]. But with this ad, I had to condense everything into less than a minute, so the process required a much more detailed approach. Longer pieces usually give me the freedom to improvise, but with shorter ones, every little detail is important, from the choice of an instrument to the placement of each note.
Watching the ad, the latter half seemed to have a different vibe from the first.
I tried to focus more on [the G80’s] performance and design with the first part, and then emphasize the quietness and coziness of the interior for the latter, highlighting a sense of comfort.
I heard you’re currently test-driving the G80.
I’m not used to driving luxury cars, but I was immediately struck by the serene silence and comfort of the ride. The driving experience of the G80 is completely different from that of my own car, especially on the highway. Music sounds fantastic in the G80, and the picturesque scenery passing by makes me feel like I’m in some sort of a music video.
In a previous interview, you once expressed hope that your Korea-inspired music would spread globally. “Distinctly Korean” is actually a core part of the Genesis DNA.
From a young age, I’ve been passionate about traditional arts, particularly traditional music. This passion stems not from my Korean nationality, but from my sheer appreciation for the beauty of Korean art and culture. Over time, traditional music naturally made its way into my soul and music. It’s not that I have some grand mission to promote Korean culture across the world. The beautiful language that permeated within me is just unwittingly expressing itself.