Squid Game is violent, emotional, and even comedic at times, but there are reasons behind its shock value that make this gore K-drama compelling. The infamous show about the game ‘Red Light, Green Light’, which entertained viewers worldwide took director Hwang Dong-Hyuk almost 12 years to make. But not many know the themes of this hit K-drama were inspired by real-life events: The violent Ssangyong strikes of 2009.
For those unaware, the labour strike was so devastating that it almost turned into a war zone. In an interview with AFP, Squid Game director revealed that the main lead Gi-hun’s plotline was inspired by the turbulent period which reportedly saw over 2600 employees laid off, with the announcement triggering over two months long strike causing police riot and violence.
“I wanted to show that any ordinary middle-class person in the world we live in today can fall to the bottom of the economic ladder overnight,” said the director.
The workers were subjected to rubber bullets and tasers, and even helicopters hovering overhead to create intense winds to stop the workers’ plight. “We were seen as incompetent breadwinners and outdated labour activists who had lost their minds. Police kept beating us even after we fell unconscious — this happened at our workplace, and it was broadcast for so many to see,” the director recalled.
Many were left injured and reportedly 30 deaths were attributed to suicide and stress-related issues in the years following the unrest. This is exactly why the director also felt guilty after the success of the first season, “At the time, it felt like the story of the Ssangyong workers had been reduced to a commodity in the series.”
Squid Game season 2 will begin streaming on Netflix on December 26.
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