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Squid Game took the world by storm when it was released on Netflix in 2021, captivating audiences with its intense survival games and its portrayal of economic disparity. While the series may seem like pure fiction, its story draws heavily from real-life events and experiences that reflect the harsh realities of society. Here’s a closer look at the real incidents that inspired the creation of Squid Game.

One of the key inspirations for Squid Game comes from South Korea’s economic struggles, particularly the Ssangyong Motor strike of 2009. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who created the series, revealed in an interview that the character Seong Gi-hun’s backstory—being laid off from Dragon Motors and turning to deadly games to escape financial ruin—was inspired by this real event.

In 2009, Ssangyong Motor Company laid off 43% of its workforce, which amounted to 2,646 employees. This triggered a 77-day strike, one of South Korea’s longest and most intense industrial actions. Workers were left desperate and the emotional and physical toll on them was immense. Hwang used this event as a reference to show how ordinary middle-class individuals can find themselves in extreme financial hardship, unable to escape the consequences of a sudden downfall.

Another character in Squid Game, Ali, a Pakistani migrant worker, also draws from Hwang’s personal experiences. Hwang recalled an incident of racial discrimination during his time in the UK, where he was dismissed by an airport staff member in a demeaning manner. This experience left a lasting impact on him and he felt that he could relate to Ali’s struggles. In Squid Game, Ali’s story highlights the challenges faced by migrant workers, who often endure exploitation and unfair treatment.

The brutal and game-like violence depicted in Squid Game might have its roots in a notorious welfare facility in South Korea during the 1970s and 1980s, known as Brothers Home. This facility, which was intended to "purify the streets," forcibly detained thousands of people, labelling them as homeless. Under the guise of social welfare, it became a place of abuse, forced labour and cruel “games” that resemble the deadly contests seen in the series.

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Inmates at Brothers Home were subjected to brutal punishments disguised as games, such as the Motor Vehicle Game, where they were beaten and the Hiroshima Game, in which they were hung upside down and assaulted. While official records state that 551 inmates died, many believe the real number was much higher. Though it’s unclear whether Brothers Home directly inspired Squid Game, the facility’s horrific practices reflect the systemic corruption and violence that Squid Game critiques.

Squid Game is a dystopian survival thriller that revolves around 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial trouble, risking their lives to play a series of deadly children's games for a massive cash prize. The series is a sharp commentary on South Korea’s class disparity and capitalism, concepts that Hwang conceived based on his own economic struggles.

Although Hwang wrote the script for Squid Game in 2009, it wasn’t until 2019 that Netflix picked up the project, as part of their effort to expand their international programming. The first season, released on September 17, 2021, became Netflix’s most-watched series and garnered global acclaim. It received numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe.

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