7 Shocking Real-Life Events That Directly Inspired Netflix’s Squid Game

The global phenomenon of Squid Game, which took the world by storm with its brutal depiction of a survival game for a massive cash prize, is a work of fiction. However, as of December 11, 2025, the show's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has repeatedly confirmed that the fictional narrative is deeply rooted in very real, devastating, and specific historical and socio-economic events in South Korea, making its themes far more chilling than a simple thriller. The series is not a true story, but it is a powerful mirror reflecting the dark side of modern capitalism and the extreme debt crisis faced by many in the country.

The true genius of Squid Game lies in its ability to translate abstract societal pressures—like crippling debt, corporate layoffs, and systemic inequality—into a visceral, deadly competition. From the main character’s backstory to the presence of migrant workers and financial scammers, every element of the show is a calculated piece of social commentary directly inspired by real-life struggles, particularly those that peaked during the early 21st century in South Korea.

The Creator’s Story: Hwang Dong-hyuk's Biography and Inspirations

To understand the profound real-life roots of Squid Game, one must first look at the mind behind it, Hwang Dong-hyuk, and his own experiences and observations that shaped the narrative.

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• Full Name: Hwang Dong-hyuk (황동혁)
• Born: May 26, 1971, in Seoul, South Korea
• Education: Seoul National University (B.A. in Communications); University of Southern California (M.F.A. in Film Production)
• Career Highlights:
  • 2007: Directed the short film Miracle on 1st Street.
  • 2011: Directed Silenced (Korean title: Dogani), a film based on a real-life sexual abuse scandal that led to legislative change in South Korea.
  • 2014: Directed Miss Granny, a successful comedy film.
  • 2017: Directed The Fortress, a historical action film.
  • 2021: Created and directed Squid Game (Korean title: Ojingeo Geim), which became Netflix’s most-watched series globally.
• Personal Inspiration for Squid Game: Hwang Dong-hyuk conceptualized the show in 2008 while living with his mother and grandmother, struggling financially. He was heavily in debt and spent his time reading Japanese manga like Battle Royale and Liar Game, which sparked the idea of a Korean-centric survival game that critiqued capitalism.
• Key Quote: He stated that he wanted to write a story that "was an allegory or a fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life."

The 7 Real-Life Events and Societal Issues That Fuel the Game

While the games themselves—Red Light, Green Light; Dalgona; Tug-of-War—are based on nostalgic Korean children's games, the reasons the 456 players join the deadly competition are pulled directly from the headlines and economic realities of South Korea.

1. The Violent Ssangyong Motor Strikes of 2009

The most direct and chilling real-world inspiration for the main character, Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), is the infamous Ssangyong Motor strike. Gi-hun's backstory as a laid-off autoworker who participated in a violent labor protest is not a fictional plot device; it is a direct reference to this historical event.

• The Event: In 2009, Ssangyong Motor, a major South Korean car manufacturer, announced massive layoffs, leading to a 77-day occupation of the factory by striking workers.
• The Reality: The standoff turned violent when police and private security forces stormed the factory. The resulting trauma, financial ruin, and subsequent suicides among the laid-off workers and their families became a national tragedy, highlighting the brutal consequences of corporate restructuring and the lack of a social safety net.
• The Parallel: Gi-hun is explicitly shown to be a victim of this exact scenario, making his desperation and financial ruin a direct reflection of a real-life crisis.

2. South Korea’s Crushing Household Debt Crisis

The central premise of Squid Game—people willingly entering a death game for money—is a metaphor for the staggering level of household debt in South Korea. The participants are all victims of a financial system that offers no escape.

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• The Reality: South Korea consistently ranks among the countries with the highest levels of household debt relative to its GDP. By the 2020s, this debt had reached record highs, fueled by soaring housing costs, private education expenses, and an aggressively competitive job market.
• The Parallel: Every player, from Gi-hun to Kang Sae-byeok, is driven by the impossibility of repaying their loans through legal means. The prize money represents the only way out of a debt trap that is destroying millions of real lives.

3. The Exploitation of Migrant Workers (Ali’s Story)

The character Abdul Ali (Player 199), the Pakistani migrant worker who is betrayed in the game, is a direct commentary on the systemic exploitation of foreign laborers in South Korea.

• The Reality: Migrant workers often face wage theft, poor working conditions, and discrimination, with few legal protections. They are frequently paid less than their Korean counterparts and have their visas tied to their employers, making it nearly impossible to seek justice without risking deportation.
• The Parallel: Ali's story of his employer withholding months of back pay, leaving him unable to support his family, was inspired by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk’s own observations and experiences with racial discrimination.

4. The Rise of Real-Life Debt-Relief Scams

The existence of the mysterious organization running the game and recruiting desperate people with promises of a financial solution mirrors the proliferation of predatory lending and illegal debt collection schemes in the country.

• The Reality: In a society where debt is normalized, illegal loan sharks and highly aggressive collection agencies prey on the most vulnerable. These groups often use violence and intimidation, trapping victims in a cycle of ever-increasing interest and payments.
• The Parallel: The Squid Game invitation card and the promise of a life-changing sum of money is the ultimate, exaggerated form of a predatory offer that desperate people in the real world fall for every day.

5. The Financial Ruin Caused by Gambling and Speculation

Gi-hun’s initial scenes, where he is shown gambling and stealing money from his mother, reflect a widespread issue of excessive speculation and gambling addiction that can quickly lead to financial collapse in South Korea.

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• The Reality: High-stakes gambling, particularly on horse racing, and aggressive investment in volatile markets like cryptocurrency and real estate speculation, are common ways for people to attempt a "get rich quick" escape from their debt. This often backfires catastrophically.
• The Parallel: Gi-hun’s desperate choices are emblematic of the financial risks taken by real people who feel they have no legitimate path to solvency.

6. The Isolation of the Elderly and the Healthcare Crisis (Il-nam’s Story)

While Oh Il-nam (Player 001) is revealed to be the wealthy mastermind, his initial characterization as a man with a brain tumor who is isolated and forgotten touches on a serious societal issue.

• The Reality: South Korea faces a growing crisis of an aging population coupled with a weakening social support system. Many elderly citizens live in poverty, often isolated, and struggle to afford healthcare, leading to a phenomenon known as "lonely death."
• The Parallel: Il-nam's character initially taps into the fear of being old, sick, and financially abandoned—a plight that many real South Koreans face, regardless of their eventual wealth reveal.

7. The Global Critique of Extreme Capitalism

Ultimately, the entire structure of the game—where the wealthy VIPs watch the poor kill each other for sport—is a scathing critique of global capitalism and the vast, growing chasm between the ultra-rich and the working class.

• The Reality: The show’s themes resonate globally because the socioeconomic issues are not unique to South Korea. The widening wealth gap, stagnant wages, and the feeling that the 'game' of life is rigged are universal anxieties.
• The Parallel: The VIPs represent the 1% who are so detached from reality that they view the suffering of the poor as entertainment, a metaphor for the real-world exploitation that occurs across industries and national borders.

Topical Authority: The True Meaning of the Social Commentary

Hwang Dong-hyuk’s intent was never to create a simple thriller, but to use the genre of the survival game as an allegory for the cutthroat nature of modern life. The show's success is not just due to its visceral violence but its uncomfortable accuracy in depicting the desperation of people trapped by debt.

The "real events" that inspired Squid Game are not a single, fictionalized kidnapping or a true-crime story. Instead, they are the systemic failures of a society where economic survival is a daily battle. The series forces viewers to ask: If you were truly trapped, with no legal or moral way out, would you take the risk of the game?

The show's profound social commentary is what has solidified its place in popular culture. It serves as a stark warning about a world where the only difference between the players and the audience is the color of the jumpsuit. The real-life Ssangyong strike, the debt crisis, and the exploitation of migrant workers are the true, tragic backstories of the 456 players, making Squid Game a powerful and painful reflection of reality.