"Squid Game" director and screenwriter Hwang Dong Hyuk addresses rumors regarding Lee Jung Jae's character and his alleged connection with player number 001.
In his interview with a local media outlet, the 50-year-old PD shared his thoughts about various "Squid Game" theories circulating on social media.
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk Explains Oh Il Nam's Role
The PD discussed why he created Oh Il Nam's character, played by Oh Young Soo, and his role in the game organization.
Hwang Dong Hyuk explained that he opted for the name because Il Nam was the name of his middle school friend, which he thinks perfectly suited to the character's personality.
As for his last name Oh, it illustrates the symbolism of "Squid Game."
Intermittently, the talented director also pointed out that player 001 was the perfect character to be the man behind the survival game.
In the nine-episode Netflix series, player 001 is the eldest participant and appears to be the weakest link out of the 456 contestants.
However, in the latter part of "Squid Game," the story uncovers his true personality and intentions for creating the game.
READ MORE: 'Squid Game' Cast Sweeps Movie Actor Brand Reputation for October + Lee Jung Jae Ranks First
'Squid Game' Director Hwang Dong Hyuk Comments on the Father-Son Theory
One of the famous and intriguing "Squid Game" theories claims that Seong Gi Hoon, portrayed by Lee Jung Jae, is the son of player 001.
Several netizens over Twitter, Youtube, and TikTok pointed out that there's more to their friendship, and the two might be related.
One example is @jazephua's TikTok entry, where he debunked "Squid Game" episode 3.
It was the scene where Il Nam overhears Gi Hun about his concern for drinking regular milk.
He mentioned that he encountered stomach problems during his childhood because of it,
"As a kid, I'm willing to bet you got spanked a lot," the old man told Gi Hoon, to which he replied, "How did you know?"
The conversation prompted Il Nam to open up about his child, saying, "My son did too; he was just like you, friend."
Aside from it, others also analyzed the scene in "Squid Game" episode 6 where they came inside a Korean neighborhood to play marbles.
"You know, when I was a kid, I lived in a neighborhood just like this," the old man said to his friend.
Seong Gi Hun also shared the same stance and expressed their similarities.
"And you know something? Our alleyway looked very similar."
However, "Squid Game" director Hwang Dong Hyuk strongly dismissed the speculation and shared that Oh Il Nam is not the father of Gi Hoon.
Did You Know? 'Squid Game' Might Just be Netflix's Biggest Show Ever!
In an interview, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that the Korean series is set to overtake the success of the historical comedy series "Bridgerton" starring Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page.
Topping in 82 out of 83 countries, the streaming giant predicts "Squid Game" as their biggest show ever.
