Netflix’s Most-Viewed Show In History Was Inspired By A Violent Historical Moment

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The hit Netflix show Squid Game was inspired by a difficult period in history and has become the platform’s most popular show ever. Season 1 was viewed 265.2 million times, making it the most-watched non-English show. This number even exceeds the 252.1 million views of Wednesday season 1, which is the most popular English-language show on Netflix.

Although opinions on seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game were varied, the show continued to be a massive hit for Netflix, remaining its most-watched program ever. Season 2 attracted 192.6 million views, making it the second most popular non-English show, while season 3 came in third with 145.8 million views.

Is Squid Game Based On A True Story?

The story of Squid Game, where desperate people risk their lives playing deadly children’s games for a massive cash prize of 4.56 billion won, is entirely made up. All the characters, including Seong Gi-hun, the Front Man, and Oh Il-nam, are fictional creations.

While the story and characters aren’t based on real life, the series does touch on real historical events, particularly when it comes to Gi-hun’s experiences.

Seong Gi-hun’s Role In Squid Game Was Based On The Violent SsangYong Motor Strike

Image via MovieStills DB

The first season of the show reveals Gi-hun’s past is linked to a real labor dispute at SsangYong Motor. This strike began in 2009 when the company, partially owned by Shanghai Automotive, faced bankruptcy.

SsangYong experienced widespread job losses. Following the initial layoffs, around 2,000 employees chose to leave the company, according to The New York Times. This was followed by further cuts, resulting in the elimination of 36% of the workforce, including all 970 positions at the Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea.

After the company announced layoffs, factory workers began a 77-day sit-in protest. According to Peoples Dispatch, the resulting conflict between the workers and police was one of the most intense labor disputes South Korea has seen in nearly 20 years, and it ultimately turned violent.

In mid-July, police launched a large-scale operation against the factory, deploying thousands of riot police equipped with water cannons and helicopters that released tear gas. Workers on strike fought back using homemade slingshots, firebombs, and even just their hands. Despite many injuries, the workers remained defiant and refused to leave the factory.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, told AFP (via NME) that he included Gi-hun’s job loss at SsangYong to highlight how easily people can experience hardship in today’s tough economic climate.

I used the example of the SsangYong Motor layoffs to illustrate how easily anyone can experience sudden financial hardship. I believe the show Squid Game resonates with audiences worldwide because it powerfully depicts this issue of economic inequality.

Gi-hun’s desperate financial situation drives him to risk his life by playing the deadly games in Squid Game, as he believes it’s his only way to quickly earn enough money to escape his crippling debt.

What Else Inspired Netflix’s Squid Game

Noh Juhan/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

During an interview with AFP, Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that the Squid Game character Ali Abdul (played by Anupam Tripathi) was inspired in part by his own life. Ali, a Pakistani migrant worker, faces discrimination and enters the games when his employer refuses to pay him. Hwang shared that he personally experienced similar discrimination while traveling overseas.

When I was 24 and visiting the UK, an immigration officer made prejudiced remarks and treated me with disrespect. The experience was deeply upsetting and remains vivid in my memory. Looking back, I realize I probably fit the stereotype they seemed to have in mind.

Rumors spread on social media claiming the South Korean facility Brothers Home inspired the show Squid Game, but these claims have been debunked, including by reports in The Korea Times. The show’s creator, Hwang, has never acknowledged any link to the facility. These false claims were amplified by the use of both real photos and AI-generated images.

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2026-01-22 04:39