Squid Game – Show History

📝 Creation

The show was created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk.
He actually wrote the script around 2008–2009, but studios rejected it for years because they thought it was too violent and unrealistic.

Over a decade later, streaming services were looking for bold, original international content. Netflix picked up the project, giving Hwang full creative control.

📺 Release (2021)

• Released worldwide in September 2021

• Quickly became Netflix’s most-watched series at the time

• Reached #1 in over 90 countries

It became a global phenomenon, inspiring:

• Halloween costumes

• Social media trends

• Real-life (safe) game recreations

• A reality competition spin-off

🏆 Awards & Impact

• Won multiple international awards

• Made history when lead actor Lee Jung-jae won an Emmy Award

• Became one of the biggest Korean dramas ever internationally

🌎 Cultural Impact

The show helped boost global interest in:

• Korean dramas (K-dramas)

• Korean culture

• Survival-style storytelling

It’s now considered one of the most influential TV shows of the 2020s.