‘The Devil’s Plan’ Is Back With a Twist: Welcome to the ‘Death Room’

Fans of the psychological survival show The Devil’s Plan have something big to look forward to — Season 2 is coming in hot, and it’s got a chilling new title: The Devil’s Plan: Death Room.

Jung Jong-yeon, the mastermind behind other hit mystery shows like The Genius, Great Escape, and High School Mystery Club, is back in the director’s seat. At the press conference held on the 29th, he seemed pretty pumped about this season, pointing out that viewers should watch out for the mind games and emotional twists that unfold through what he calls “devilish plays” and “intense characters.”

“’Death Room’ is a completely different story from Season 1. We aimed for a new narrative and setting, and I believe viewers can look forward to a differentiated entertainment experience.”

So, what’s up with the ‘Death Room’ subtitle?

Well, according to Jung, the setup this time is totally different. Instead of just one place for everyone to live, the players are split between two spaces — one’s a regular living area, and the other’s kind of a prison. And yeah, it’s as rough as it sounds.

“The biggest difference from Season 1 is that the living quarters have been divided into two: the living area and the prison area. The participants will be split in half to live in these separate spaces, and the players in the prison area will compete in ‘death matches’ in a place called the ‘Death Room’. It may seem simple, but we anticipated that this would significantly change the overall tone of the season, and I believe that has been the case.”

Why are there 14 players this time instead of 12?

Jung explained that they did some behind-the-scenes simulations, and realized they’d run out of players too early if they stuck with 12. So they bumped the number up to 14. But it wasn’t just about the numbers — they wanted more variety in personalities too.

“Since diverse characters are important in a reality survival show, we put a lot of thought into gathering participants with various personalities and backgrounds.”

What were the players thinking when they joined?

Kang Ji-young shared that after seeing Season 1, she figured she’d do well in memory-focused games. She jumped at the chance to work with Jung Jong-yeon and joined with an “I’ll fight to the death” mindset.

Kim Ha-rin, on the other hand, said she’d been all about work and study her whole life. Watching Jung’s shows was her happy place, so when the chance came through the open call, she went for it — no regrets.

Kyuhyun said he’s been a panelist and MC for a while but missed competing, so he took this as a fun challenge. Jung Hyun-Gyu said getting cast felt like a huge honor and that the experience helped him learn things about himself he didn’t know.

“I thought I could show my strengths in ‘memory-based games’… I participated with the mindset of ‘fighting to the death’.” – Kang Ji-young
“I felt it was a ‘fateful moment where I had to risk everything’.” – Kim Ha-rin
“I wanted to take on the challenge as a player again after a long time.” – Kyuhyun
“Through filming, I discovered aspects of myself I didn’t know and was able to grow.” – Jung Hyun-Gyu

What makes the prison area so intense?

Jung explained that the prison’s not just a setting — it totally changes the dynamic. People stuck there have fewer game pieces, and while they’re technically on the same team, they’re also fighting against each other. There’s this weird mix of cooperation and rivalry, and even a kind of hierarchy that forms.

“The prison area has a hierarchical atmosphere, so it will be an interesting space with a lot of narrative.”

Did the matches bring out sides of the players they didn’t expect?

Lee Se-dol, the legendary Go player, said it was his first time feeling this level of competitiveness outside of Go. It was tough at first, but he ended up loving it. Ji-young admitted she usually keeps calm on TV, but while filming, she got way more into it than expected — so much so that she now hesitates to join other shows that intense.

“The new environment felt difficult at first, but later I found myself enjoying it.” – Lee Se-dol
“I was surprised by how deeply I became immersed… I vowed not to easily participate in other programs.” – Kang Ji-young

What about the buzz around Lee Se-dol joining?

Apparently, he didn’t feel much pressure, despite the hype. He just wanted to enjoy the ride, and it seems like he did. The games were new to him, which made it fun, and he’s hoping fans enjoy seeing that side of him.

“I don’t tend to feel much pressure… I was able to enjoy participating, and I hope viewers will enjoy those aspects as well.” – Lee Se-dol

Who should we be watching closely this season?

Jung Jong-yeon didn’t hesitate — Lee Se-dol is the one to watch. He’s competitive, smart, and unexpectedly funny. Jung also teased that fans should pay attention to Kyuhyun, who’ll be showing a more open, real version of himself than we’ve seen before.

“He has a very strong competitive spirit… he is witty and has a great sense of humor.” – Jung Jong-yeon

So, what makes this season stand out the most?

Jung says it’s a whole new story — but the emotional transformation is still the heart of it. Some people who seem warm and caring will make harsh choices. Others who seem cold might surprise everyone with how loyal they are. It’s that unpredictability in human behavior that makes the show worth watching.