Squid Game Real Story: Netflix’s Squid Game has captured the hearts of millions worldwide, becoming one of the platform’s most successful shows. Its gripping narrative about individuals risking their lives in deadly games to escape financial despair has struck a chord with audiences. While the series’ plot seems fictional, certain elements bear striking similarities to real-life events in South Korea, such as the Brother’s Home internment camps and the SsangYong Motor layoffs.
This article delves into the real story behind Squid Game, exploring its inspirations and societal themes of economic disparity and human survival.
The Horrifying History of Brother’s Home Internment Camps
In the 1970s and 1980s, South Korea witnessed the rise of internment camps like Brother’s Home, which was initially an orphanage. These camps aimed to “cleanse” society of poverty and undesirable elements.
What Were These Camps? Internment camps imprisoned thousands of individuals, including homeless people, street children, and protestors, without charges. These camps, often referred to as “Korea’s Auschwitz,” mirrored the horrors of Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
Brother’s Home: A Hub of Atrocities Brother’s Home became infamous for horrific practices, including unpaid labor, torture, human trafficking, and abuse. Survivors like Han Jong-sun have shared chilling accounts of being abducted and beaten. Jong-sun revealed to BBC that he and his sister were forcibly taken in 1984:“A bus stopped in front of the police substation, and we were forced into the bus. They started beating us, saying that we were too loud.”
Although Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, hasn’t explicitly cited these camps as inspiration, their parallels with the series’ grim themes are undeniable.
SsangYong Motor Layoffs: Economic Despair and Survival
In 2009, South Korea’s SsangYong Motor laid off over 2,000 employees, triggering widespread protests and devastating financial consequences. The layoffs left many in debt, while others succumbed to despair, with several committing suicide.
Hwang Dong-hyuk referenced this incident as a key inspiration for Squid Game, telling AP:
“Through the reference to the SsangYong Motor layoffs, 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.”
This exploration of economic disparity resonates deeply with the series’ universal message about the fragility of financial security and societal systems.
Squid Game: A Universal Message Through Fiction
Although Squid Game’s deadly games may seem far-fetched, its exploration of economic disparity, survival, and desperation is grounded in reality. The series brilliantly highlights the capitalistic systems that push individuals to their breaking point.
Core Themes:
The disparity between the rich and the poor.
How society exploits vulnerable individuals.
The psychological and physical toll of survival under extreme conditions.
Squid Game Cast and Season 3 Updates
The series stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Wi Ha-jun in pivotal roles, with Gong Yoo making a special appearance. The upcoming Squid Game season 3 is set to premiere in 2025, with new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, and Park Sung-hoon.
Fans eagerly await how the story evolves while maintaining its gripping commentary on societal issues.
The success of Squid Game lies not just in its thrilling narrative but in its ability to shine a spotlight on harsh societal realities. From the harrowing history of Brother’s Home to the economic despair of the SsangYong Motor layoffs, the series echoes real-world struggles that resonate universally.
As Squid Game season 3 approaches, viewers can expect the show to continue blending intense storytelling with thought-provoking commentary on the human condition.
