Is Squid Game a True Story? The Shocking Truth Behind Netflix’s Deadliest Show

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After waiting a total of six months, we finally have the last part of the highly popular Netflix series, Squid Game, which holds the record as the most-watched show ever. But will it deliver a satisfying conclusion?

Speaking recently, its creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said that he wasn’t so sure.

At the season 3 press conference, he acknowledged that he was still deciding if it was a positive or negative thing, but either way, the audience and viewers would be privy to it.

Afterward, he proceeded to label the upcoming episodes as “extraordinarily weird, utterly madcap,” expressing his ongoing astonishment over the series’ remarkable success and popularity.

He was taken aback by the extent of success, given the circumstances; it’s quite unexpected, in fact, unbelievable… The lessons I’ve learned throughout this journey undoubtedly will shape my future significantly, without a doubt. It has been incredibly beneficial for me.

After experiencing many ups and downs – moments of joy and sorrow, constructive feedback and appreciation – I eagerly hope that the season finale launch will leave me with my most cherished memory.

I’ve affirmed that it’s time for me to bid farewell to the captivating world of Squid Game. I’m excited to dive into new creative endeavors and explore fresh ideas.

Yet, that hasn’t stopped its lead Lee Jung-jae from hoping for more.

He mentioned that it would be essential to involve Hwang Dong-hyuk in the project, so perhaps we could persuade him to develop the spin-off or, alternatively, consider a new season of Squid Game instead?

At present, everyone is eagerly awaiting the upcoming final season, filled with numerous surprises and unexpected events.

“It was full of surprises for me,” he added. “I was, like, ‘Whaaat? Is this happening?’

I found myself eagerly wondering about the decisions these characters will make next. The storyline is filled with unexpected twists and turns. Many changes, transitions, and transformations are expected, along with an array of new characters appearing in season 3 compared to season 2.

Absolutely, from the moment this captivating series graced our screens, I’ve found myself pondering if such a horrifying and bizarre narrative could unfold within the realm of reality.

In other words, before the show’s premiere, there was absolutely nothing related to it. However, in the subsequent years, Netflix introduced two versions of the theme – Squid Game: The Challenge and Physical 100 – which are less violent adaptations of the original idea.

Later on, internet content producer MrBeast swiftly reproduced this program on his YouTube channel, offering a different version that eventually appeared as Beast Games on Amazon Prime Video.

The recent trend reminds me of an old viral tweet where user Alex Blechman pointed out our unfortunate tendency to replicate fictional items meant as “warning signs.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of world we inhabit right now, yet fortunately, those imitating the Squid Game in reality have managed to steer clear of violence so far (fingers crossed it remains so).

Apart from the emergence of reality shows reminiscent of Squid Game since its premiere, some spectators are looking for proof that the Netflix series is based on real-life occurrences.

Regrettably, this situation has led to a social media environment filled with misleading information such as artificially created visuals of the Squid Game set looking deserted and rundown, which spread rapidly on platforms like TikTok.

The occurrences of Squid Game appear to draw connections with a historical scandal in South Korea involving a detention center called Brothers’ Home as well.

Significantly, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has consistently denied any connection between the gruesome facility and the series, making claims linking them on social media questionable at best.

Information below clarifies the inaccuracies in tales about the authentic Squid Game narrative, as well as Hwang Dong-hyuk’s explanations on the actual events that inspired him while crafting the show.

This version aims to maintain the original meaning and flow while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

Is Squid Game based on a true story?

Fans need not worry – despite the increasing complexity of game shows, there haven’t been any instances where participants were compelled to play dangerous versions of classic children’s games.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk previously said that he drew his inspiration from Japanese manga and anime.

He openly acknowledged to Variety that he’s drawn significant creative influence from Japanese manga and anime throughout his career. In the beginning, when he was struggling financially, he often spent hours in cafes immersed in comics like Battle Royale and Liar Game.

I started pondering what it might be like if I participated in these events myself. However, I discovered the competitions were overly intricate, so I decided to concentrate on employing children’s games for my own endeavors instead.

Among the games at the playground, you’ll find marbles, tug of war, hopscotch, and Red Light, Green Light – exciting variations of classic favorites that kids everywhere enjoy playing.

Regarding the overarching ideas of survival in the series, creator Dong-hyuk drew inspiration from his personal experiences with financial hardship, aiming to craft a symbolic tale reflecting contemporary capitalist culture and its propensity to foster cutthroat competition.

He shared: “I aimed to craft a tale that served as a symbolic representation or parable of contemporary capitalistic culture, one that embodies fierce competition, reminiscent of the intense rivalry seen in everyday life. Yet, I wanted it to feature characters that are familiar to us all from our real-life experiences.

In Hwang’s words, “This survival game serves as both enjoyment and a stage for human stories. The games depicted are straightforward and easily graspable, ensuring that the audience can concentrate more on the characters instead of being sidetracked by figuring out complex rules.

One aspect of Squid Game that draws from a true event is the background story of main character Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae). He amassed debts following the loss of his employment during a labor dispute at an auto factory known as Dragon Motors.

Dong-hyuk disclosed that the hardships faced by Gi-hun were based on the actual events surrounding the Ssangyong Motor Company, who announced a significant job reduction of around 2,600 employees in the year 2009. This decision sparked an extended labor strike lasting approximately 77 days.

He shared with AFP his intention behind referencing the SsangYong Motor layoffs: “I aimed to illustrate how a typical middle-class individual in today’s world could suddenly find themselves at the very bottom of the economic ladder within a single night.

To some degree, the popular series “Squid Game” mirrors real-life events, given that South Korea is grappling with a severe individual debt problem. This struggle is symbolically represented through the 456 contestants in the show, all of whom find themselves in desperate situations.

In the initial release of the series, Lee In-cheol from the Real Good Economic Research Institute commented (as reported by The Guardian): “The personal debts of average South Koreans account for about 5% more than their country’s total Gross Domestic Product.

Translated into simpler and more natural language: “For each person, this implies that saving every cent you make over a whole year wouldn’t be enough to pay off your debts. What’s more, the amount of people facing debt issues is increasing rapidly.

Is Squid Game based on Brothers’ Home?

No, Squid Game is not based on the human rights abuses that allegedly took place at Brothers’ Home.

As a diehard movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed that since the debut of Squid Game season 2, many viewers have been drawing parallels between the Netflix series and the infamous internment camp. However, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has never hinted or suggested that this historical event served as inspiration for the show.

In the 1970s and ’80s, Brothers’ Home functioned at its highest capacity, serving as both a detention center and rehabilitation facility for individuals labeled as “beggars” in South Korean law. These people were categorized as those who begged or sold items on the street without a permanent residence, often disturbing passersby with their requests.

In truth, it appears that various types of people, such as working individuals, temporarily abandoned children, orphans, among others, were reportedly placed at Brothers’ Home. Under these roofs, they endured deplorable living situations and were said to have experienced severe physical and sexual mistreatment.

The living conditions and treatment at Brothers’ Home have been likened to certain militaristic settings due to the uniformed inmates, overcrowded dormitories, and allegations of violence between guards and these organized groups of inmates.

On the contrary, while both the Brothers’ Home and Squid Game share a dark narrative, they differ significantly. For instance, survivors have claimed instances of forced labor in Brothers’ Home, which is absent in Squid Game. Moreover, unlike Squid Game where characters compete for monetary rewards, the Brothers’ Home lacks any such competitive aspect or financial incentive despite the immense hardship endured by its inhabitants.

In short, Squid Game is not a dramatisation of the Brothers’ Home scandal.

Are the “real Squid Game” pictures on TikTok real or AI generated?

It turns out those popular images of a real-life version of the Squid Game, which went viral on TikTok, were actually created by artificial intelligence.

On various social media outlets, pictures seemingly depicting the interior of an old, rundown building, decorated with murals in bright, kid-friendly colors, gained widespread attention. Some netizens speculated these images as proof that Squid Game is not just a TV show, but a real-life event.

Actually, these pictures turned out to be false information. They were artificially created images, first published on Instagram by the user @CityHermitAI, as early as October 2024, which is over two months prior to the season 2 premiere.

What is a Squid Game in Korea?

Squid Game is a popular children’s game in Korea.

In simpler terms, Squid Game is similar to the classic game we know as Tag, but with a unique twist. The game is played on a ground-drawn board, shaped like a squid, which serves as the playing field in this intriguing version.

In this scenario, players are divided into two groups: an offensive team and a defensive team. The offensive group moves by hopping, aiming to advance up to the squid’s waist. They emerge victorious when they manage to tap the squid’s head with their foot.

In this scenario, it falls upon the defensive team to prevent the offensive team from moving forward, and they can secure a win by forcing them out of the playing area or court’s limits.

In reality, there’s a key distinction between the actual game and its depiction on screen – fortunately, participants do not typically carry knives during play.

In the second competition during season 1, participants were tasked with selecting a specific imprinted figure from a sweet treat resembling a honeycomb, which is reminiscent of a traditional Korean custom. This particular confectionery delight is known as Dalgona, and it’s common for young Korean children to try to consume the etched design without breaking the treat itself.

This was among my favorite matches, incredibly physical too. To me, it seemed to mirror our contemporary society rather symbolically, as if it were a children’s game representing modern life.”

Or, more colloquially:
“That match was one of my faves and super intense. It felt like it could be the kid’s game that shows what our world is like today.

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2025-06-26 13:36