Squid Game (South Korean Television Series)

Squid Game (Korean: 오징어 게임; RR: Ojingeo Geim) is a South Korean survival drama television series created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The series premiered on Netflix on September 17, 2021, and consists of nine episodes.

Promotional image for the series Squid Game — Promotional artwork for the series.

Premise

The story follows Seong Gi-hun, a man struggling with financial instability and personal misfortune after losing his job. He is recruited to participate in a mysterious, high-stakes survival competition alongside hundreds of other individuals facing similar economic hardships. Participants compete in a series of traditional children's games for a life-changing cash prize of 45.6 billion won, unaware that failure in these games results in fatal consequences.

Among the participants is Cho Sang-woo, a former neighborhood friend of Gi-hun. Despite his humble origins, Sang-woo achieved academic success at a prestigious university and built a career in finance. However, he enters the competition while facing a personal crisis involving the misappropriation of company funds.

Cast and Characters

The series features an ensemble cast portraying various participants in the game.

Production and Franchise

Squid Game was produced for the streaming platform Netflix. Following the success of the first season, the franchise expanded with subsequent installments, including a second season released in 2024 and a third season scheduled for 2025.