Meet Hwang Dong Hyuk, the brilliant director behind the thriller, record-breaking Netflix Kdrama Squid Game. In this article, let's learn more about his journey making the series!

Days after Squid Game premiered, viewers praised the new masterpiece created and produced by the brilliant mind. As the hype for the trending series is not subsiding just yet, fans simultaneously discover more about the Korean thriller: the children street games, the records it broke, directorship, and more!

Squid Game Director Hwang Dong Hyuk Took 13 Years to Make the Series

It has been revealed that Squid Game took 13 years to make before it met the viewers this 2021. Yes, you read it right!

To know more about the thriller Kdrama, here are some stories behind its success.

Kdrama Squid Game is inspired by a Korean childhood game where 456 players are eager to compete with one another to get the 45.6 billion KRW.

Once a player gets eliminated, a savage goodbye is served. However, seeing how threatening the games work, the players are still willing to take the risks of playing the games.

During Squid Game media press conference, director Hwang Dong Hyuk confessed he began drafting the series in 2008. At that time, he regularly visited comic book stores.

The Story Behind Netflix Squid Game

He said, "When I wrote 'Squid Game,' I thought I could play it because I was in debt at that time and really needed money for a living."

Hwang Dong Hyuk added that since he was in need of financial support, he wished there was a chance to really play the games.

ALSO READ: Here are the Children's Games Featured in Neflix's 'Squid Game'

In addition to how he wrote the series, the director mentioned that he preferred the classic squid game (it is also one of his favorite games) as the inspiration for the drama, for the reason that it best represents the society we live in today.

As a screenwriter, aside from Squid Game, Hwang Dong Hyuk already worked with various projects recognized by the public for being socially conscious and showing the rough reality.

Some of his works include The Fortress and Silenced.

He also revealed his inspiration about the men who wear the same outfits and have different shapes on their masks in the series. The triangles, squares, and the circles are the managers.

Hwang Dong Hyuk shared that the world of ants is where he got the ideas from.

"The men who have different shapes on their masks are the working level ants and they are given one purpose only. I got the idea of the masked men from the world of the ants."

13 Years is Worth the Wait

As per Hwang Dong Hyuk, bringing the Netflix Kdrama Squid Game into life wasn't easy for him since the concept of his work was too complex and not commercial. It was difficult to get an investment when a story concept is brutal and unfamiliar to the market in the early 2000s. That's why director Dong Hyuk had to keep his concept for a while.

After 13 years of waiting, Hwang Dong Hyuk has been given the creative freedom to finally produce his masterpiece, big thanks to Netflix.

He added the plot was really a sad story, but the deadly game present in the series are the same things that we see and experience in this generation, such as investing in coins and more.

"Time have changed and people have told me that 'Squid Game' reminds them of the things that are currently happening in this tough society. Due to that, I expanded the story two years ago and now many are already talking about it."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Squid Game' Beats 'Sweet Home' and 'Money Heist' Record on Netflix

How about you? Do you also think the Netflix Kdrama Squid Game is worth it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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Written by Shai Collins.