“Squid Game” is not just a TV show anymore. It is a global event. From Seoul to São Paulo, fans dressed in green tracksuits and pink jumpsuits aren’t just cosplaying, they’re paying tribute to a cultural beast that roared out of South Korea and shook the world. With the final season wrapping in June 2025, the country is proud and partying.
“Squid Game” rewrote the global rules of television, culture, and influence. It was number one in every single country where Netflix operates. That’s 93 countries. It didn’t just break Netflix’s own records. It also became the biggest launch in Netflix history.
The show first landed in 2021 and immediately became a global phenomenon. Since then, “Squid Game” hasn’t let go of the crown. Los Angeles even made September 17 “Squid Game Day” in 2022. Why? Because this series tapped into something real: that feeling of being crushed by debt, trapped by a rigged system, and desperate to survive.
From Korean Games to Global Craze
Beyond the gore and drama, “Squid Game” introduced the world to parts of Korean culture many had never seen. Once forgotten traditional kids’ games like ddakji and gong gi came roaring back. Suddenly, cultural centers around the world were hosting safe Squid Game-style competitions.
Even Korean food saw a spike. Dalgona candy, the sugary trap from the show, popped up in cafes from Seoul to New York. This is all part of the Korean Wave, or “Hallyu,” a soft power surge that started decades ago but exploded with Squid Game.
Netflix pumped nearly $2 billion into South Korea’s economy in 2023 alone. And in 2025, they doubled down, pledging $2.5 billion more to develop even more Korean content. All because of one show.
Tourism exploded. Fans made pilgrimages to real-life filming spots like Incheon’s theme parks and backstreets in Seoul. Fashion got a lift, too. Pink jumpsuits and green tracksuits became instantly iconic. Korean restaurants overseas reported spikes in business. Even other shows and K-pop acts benefited, as global demand for Korean entertainment skyrocketed.
Seoul Throws a Wild Send-Off
To honor this mega success, South Korea went big. On June 30, 2025, downtown Seoul turned into a live-action Squid Game tribute. It was massive. Over 450 performers hit the streets, dressed as guards or players.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, and stars like Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun showed up. So did 38,000 fans. The vibe? Part pride parade, part movie premiere, part national moment.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk drew inspiration from real pain: job losses, debt, and economic collapse. The main character’s backstory as a laid-off auto worker is straight from the headlines, specifically the 2009 SsangYong Motor strike, during which factory workers clashed violently with police.
Even South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung, called the show “a brutal truth wrapped in fiction.” The show didn’t pull punches. It tackled real problems: the country’s massive household debt, school pressure, job scarcity, and the rich-poor gap. In a strange twist, the show’s fiction became a protest symbol.
Protesters used “Squid Game” signs and even K-pop beats at rallies, blurring the line between art and activism.
