MINNEAPOLIS — Lee Sung Jin doesn’t come across like an expert on rage.

The writer/director showed off the amiability, humor and patience of his fellow Minnesotans during an April 7 Zoom interview from Los Angeles.

But his 2023 creation, “Beef,” in which two hot-headed motorists refuse to bury their grudges, became one of the most celebrated temper tantrums that TV has ever thrown. It won eight Emmys, including one for best anthology series.

In the second season, which premiered Wednesday on Netflix, Jin focuses on a young couple who decide to blackmail their bosses (Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac) after filming them in the midst of a violent argument. Producers were able to tap Finneas (Billie Eilish’s brother) to handle the score and secure Minnesota Olympian Suni Lee for a juicy cameo.

Jin, 44, opened up about how the Twin Cities informs his sensibilities and what a season of “Beef” in Minnesota might look like.

Q: When did you know there would be a second season?

A: We were going through the awards rounds for Season 1 and we still hadn’t been picked up yet. Netflix wasn’t biting on any of my ideas. They said it felt like I was pitching just to pitch. That was a good callout.

It made me really go back to square one, take a hard look in the mirror. Then I overheard a heated argument from another couple’s home in the neighborhood.

When I told the story to my Gen Z peers, they were very concerned. “Did you call 911?” When I retold the story to millennials and Gen Xers, they kind of shrugged. That was fascinating to me. That’s when everything started to click.

Q: It seemed to me that the new season is also a lot about lying.

A: Absolutely. The cast and I talked a lot about masks, the personas we create not only in our workplaces, but in our most intimate environments.

Q: Not sure how you tapped into that. Minnesotans never hide anything.

A: [Laughs]. I have a very nostalgic, warm recollection of my time in Minnesota. That feeling is probably what I’m chasing.

Q: How accurate are those memories?

A: I’m sure they’re not real at all.

Q: You moved around a lot as a kid. What were the pluses and minuses of that kind of childhood?

A: Nobody has ever asked me that before. Thanks. When you’re constantly an outsider, your instinct in any new environment is to scan around, get a handle on everyone’s temperature and try to blend in. I think those observational skills come in handy as a writer.

The most obvious minus is that anytime I made a substantial friendship, I had to start over. I definitely missed the idea of home. That’s why I find myself returning to Minnesota so much as I get older.

I’ve ingratiated myself into the [Minnesota] Timberwolves organization through my friendship with [director of basketball operations] Tim Connelly. One of the highlights of my year is participating in his annual ping-pong charity event.

Q: You any good?

A: The first year, I made it to the quarterfinals. Last year, I lost in the first round. I didn’t bring my A game.

Q: Is getting away from Los Angeles helpful to you?

A: 100 percent. L.A. is a bubble, no doubt. What I love is coming in from the Minneapolis airport and instantly getting into a conversation with the driver. When I’m grabbing a bite to eat at the restaurant in the Four Seasons, I’m getting to know my waiter really well. There’s a friendliness that I really miss.

Q: What would a season of “Beef” in Minnesota look like?

A: It would probably happen on a lake, maybe a sports-related argument over youth sports. If there were tax incentives, I would run to go shoot something in Minnesota.

Q: Let’s talk about some of your other projects. What did you learn from your time writing for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”?

A: It taught me everything. [Co-creator and cast member] Glenn Howerton is one of my closest friends. Those guys do everything. They care about every little detail and I bring that to “Beef.” I care about the size of the font, the fabric for the sheets on the bed.

Q: You directed the music video, “Come Back to Me,” for RM from BTS. How did that happen?

A: I couldn’t believe it. I got a DM in my messages from him. Turns out he was a big fan of the show and wanted to make a music video in the spirit of “Beef.” We had some awesome conversations. That was the first time I got to shoot in Korea, which was an insane experience. That video inspired me to make Korea such a big part of Season 2.

Q: I know that Marvel will send a hit man out if you say too much about your involvement with the “X-Men” reboot. But can you talk about what drew you to the project?

A: Again, nostalgia. My parents were recently in town for my daughter’s birthday. When I told my dad I was working on “X-Men,” his face lit up. We used to wake up Saturday mornings and watch the cartoon together. As a young Korean American, how could you not see a little bit of yourself in those mutants?

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