The creator and lead actor of the hit Korean thriller Squid Game recently visited the UK. In an interview with ITV News Entertainment Reporter Rishi Davda, they shared insights into the show’s lasting impact and its deeper meaning.
Squid Game first came out in 2021 and quickly became Netflix’s most popular show ever, with over 265 million views for season 1 and nearly 193 million for season 2.
The show features a deadly competition where hundreds of people in debt face life-or-death challenges inspired by children’s games, with the promise of a huge cash prize.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the writer and director, originally created Squid Game as a film in 2009 but only released it as a series 12 years later. He says the show is more than just entertainment. It is a satire and an allegory about society, inequality, and morality.
“Many thought it was just a strange survival show, but once you watch it, you realise it’s a commentary on the modern world,” Hwang said. “It gives you food for thought and topics for discussion.”
Lead actor Lee Jung-jae, who plays Player 456, has been key to the show’s global success. The series has also increased interest in the Korean language, with a 63% rise in British people studying Korean since season 2 aired.
Hwang shared the physical toll making the show took on him. “While making season one, I lost seven or eight teeth due to stress,” he said. “Filming seasons two and three was even harder, and I lost two more teeth.”
The final season of Squid Game launches on June 27, 2025, on Netflix. While the story is ending, its popularity has led to a reality show spin-off where contestants can win money without risking their lives.
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