Is Gi-hun aka Player 456's story based on the real Ssangyong Motor Strike? Squid Game plotline speculations explored

Squid Game, the South Korean series that became a global sensation upon its 2021 release, is renowned for its harrowing depiction of individuals ensnared in deadly games to win a life-changing sum of money. While the show's narrative is fictional, it reportedly drew inspiration from real-life events, notably the violent Ssangyong Motor strikes of 2009.

In 2009, Ssangyong Motor Company, one of South Korea's leading automobile manufacturers, announced a massive layoff of over 2,600 workers, nearly 40% of its workforce. This decision led to a significant labor dispute, with workers occupying the factory in protest.

The strike lasted 77 days and was marked by intense confrontations between strikers and riot police. The government deployed thousands of police officers and used forceful measures, including helicopters and tasers, to suppress the protest. The violent crackdown resulted in numerous injuries and highlighted the severe economic and social pressures faced by South Korean workers.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledged that the Ssangyong strikes influenced the creation of Squid Game. His narrative, while fictional, served as a poignant commentary on the human cost of economic disparity and societal pressures.

"I wanted to show that any ordinary middle-class person in the world we live in today can fall to the bottom of the economic ladder overnight," he said.

The show's protagonist, Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), portrayed by Lee Jung-jae, mirrored the struggles of laid-off workers. At the beginning of the series, Gi-hun is depicted as a divorced chauffeur with gambling debts, struggling to support his daughter and ailing mother.

His backstory included being a former employee of Dragon Motors, a fictional representation inspired by the real-life Ssangyong Motor Company. This connection underscored the show's commentary on economic disparity and the desperation that can arise from sudden unemployment.

Lee Jung-jae as the show's protagonist, Seong Gi-hun (Player 456) (Image via X/@NetflixKR)

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The untold story: Labor protests and the birth of Netflix's Squid Game

Squid Game follows Seong Gi-hun as he becomes one of 456 contestants invited to participate in a series of children's games with a deadly twist. The participants, all facing financial hardships, compete for a grand prize of 45.6 billion won (around $31.4 million).

Each round is a traditional Korean children's game but with fatal consequences for those who fail. The series delves into themes of economic inequality, the human instinct for survival, and the moral dilemmas faced when individuals are pushed to their limits.

The second season of Squid Game, which premiered on December 26, 2024, continues to explore these themes. Three years after winning the game, Seong Gi-hun returns with a new resolve to dismantle the organization behind the deadly competition. The season introduces new games, each more perilous than the last, and delves deeper into the origins and operations of the sinister organization.

The second season brought back old cast members:

• Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Seong Gi-hun, the determined protagonist seeking to end the deadly games.
• Lee Byung-hun returns as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man and enigmatic overseer of the games who joins as Player 001.
• Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho, the detective investigating the organization's secrets while looking for his brother Hwang In-ho.
• Gong Yoo as the salesman who recruits participants into the deadly competition.

New additions to the cast include:

• Kang Ha-neul
• Yim Si-wan
• Park Sung-hoon
• Jo Yuri
• Park Gyu-young
• Lee Jin-wook
• Won Ji-an
• Choi Seung-hyun (former BigBang member T.O.P)
• Kang Ae-sim
• Yang Dong-geun
• Lee David

(From L to R) Kang Ha-neul, Lee Seo-hwan, Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Jo Yuri (Image via X/@NetflixKR)

Beyond the Ssangyong strikes, Squid Game reflected broader societal issues in South Korea, such as rising personal debt, unemployment, and the pressures of a hyper-competitive society. The show's depiction of individuals willing to risk their lives for financial security resonates with real-world economic anxieties.

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Squid Game and Squid Game 2 are available on Netflix for global streaming, with season 3 set to release in 2025.