Beef Creator Draws Inspiration From Real-Life Incidents for Season 2

Lee Sung Jin discusses how class dynamics and healthcare inequity shape the new season of the Netflix series.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:07pm

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An extreme close-up of a cracked, shattered glass surface reflecting dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the fragility and tension of class divisions explored in the Netflix series Beef.The shattered veneer of class divides and healthcare inequity exposed in the gritty details of Beef Season 2.Montecito Today

Beef creator Lee Sung Jin revealed that the second season of the Netflix series, which tackles themes of class, healthcare, and generational divides, was largely inspired by real-life events and observations. Wanting to craft an 'honest' season about 'younger love versus older love in 2026,' Lee said it was vital to 'tackle the theme of class' as that 'affects every interaction' and 'is not getting better, it's getting worse.'

Why it matters

Beef has emerged as a critically acclaimed series that delves into complex social issues, and the creator's decision to draw from real-life experiences and observations adds an extra layer of authenticity and relevance to the show's exploration of class dynamics and healthcare inequity.

The details

In the new season, Beef follows three couples of varying class levels, including Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Charles Melton), Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) and Josh (Oscar Isaac), and Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung) and Dr. Kim (Song Kang-ho). Lee said he was inspired by a 'real-life incident' where he overheard a 'heated debate coming from a couple's home' and received differing reactions from younger and older peers. To highlight class differences, the season also features a storyline where Ashley experiences a medical emergency exacerbated by a lack of health insurance and long wait times, which Lee said was directly inspired by his own experience waiting over 10 hours in the ER with his wife.

  • Lee Sung Jin recently re-upped his overall deal with Netflix.
  • Beef Season 2 is currently streaming.

The players

Lee Sung Jin

The creator, writer, and director of Beef, who recently re-upped his overall deal with Netflix.

Beef

A Netflix series that explores themes of class, healthcare, and generational divides through the lens of three couples.

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What they’re saying

“It was when younger people reacted like Ashley and Austin. Whereas my similarly-aged or older peers were like, 'It's a fight. I mean, who among us [hasn't fought]?'”

— Lee Sung Jin, Creator, Beef

“I literally just wrote down in my notes app everything that happened, dialogue I overheard, and pretty much copied and pasted it and wrote it in a day. So that episode is not an exaggeration. That is the state of our health industry at the moment.”

— Lee Sung Jin, Creator, Beef

“We're just responding to real life. I'd love to get to a point where society isn't what it is, so we can write about something other than class. But until then, we'll just keep trying to shout it from the mountaintops.”

— Lee Sung Jin, Creator, Beef

What’s next

Beef Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix, and fans can expect the series to continue exploring complex social issues in future seasons.

The takeaway

Beef has emerged as a thought-provoking series that delves into the real-world challenges of class dynamics, healthcare inequity, and generational divides, with creator Lee Sung Jin drawing directly from his own experiences and observations to craft an authentic and impactful narrative.