INTERVIEW 'Squid Game' director reflects on bittersweet end of six-year journey

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk / Courtesy of Netflix

By Park Jin-hai

• Published Jun 30, 2025 6:24 PM KST
• Updated Jun 30, 2025 9:51 PM KST

Hwang Dong-hyuk reveals divisive finale wasn’t part of original vision

After investing what he calls a "life-draining effort" into the "Squid Game" series over three seasons, director Hwang Dong-hyuk confessed to a bittersweet sentiment on its conclusion — a complex mix of relief tinged with lingering sense of loss.

"To be honest, I've been working on this project for six years. From the moment I started writing, this one project has really consumed a significant part of my life, giving me unimaginable success and glory, but also bringing many difficulties. I think that time will remain in my memory for a long time," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday.

"Thinking about when else I might receive such attention and love, I do feel a bittersweet feeling now that the project is really over. But at the same time, it was a project that carried a lot of pressure because it received so much global attention and anticipation. So, the thought that I've finally finished this project also gives me a sense of relief and peace," he added.

"Squid Game" Season 3 dropped Friday, completing the saga that began in 2021 and continued with Season 2 in 2024. The latest chapter follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who re-enters the deadly game on his own mission; the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), the mastermind who infiltrated the game while hiding his identity, and also reveals the final fate of the remaining survivors.

The series topped Netflix's global ranking for TV shows on its first day of release, based on data from the global streaming ranking site FlixPatrol as of Monday. It reached the top in all 93 countries where the series is available.

Change of plans

Yet despite its record-breaking debut, reactions to the series’ controversial finale are sharply divided. Hwang said he fully anticipated the polarized response.

"There were no expectations for Season 1. There was shock and freshness. But for Seasons 2 and 3, there were already expectations and everyone has different things they want from it. Some expect excitement from the games, while others expect social messages. Because these expectations are different, I think there will be a variety of reactions, with some feeling satisfied and others feeling let down, no matter what comes out," he said.

A key point of contention is the season’s final twist, in which all of the characters who enter the game die, with only a newborn baby left alive. Hwang revealed that this wasn’t his original plan.

"I initially vaguely considered a storyline where Gi-hun would survive with a few other contestants and eventually go to meet his daughter in the U.S. But I reconsidered what story I really wanted to tell with this project and felt that Gi-hun's journey should end here," he said.

"Because ultimately, this project is about the world we live in. Economic inequality has worsened since I made Season 1, the lives of ordinary people have become more difficult and wars show no signs of ending. Yet, people seem to lack the ability or will to fix this situation. It feels like a truly more bleak future is coming and I thought I needed to tell that story, which led me to devise the current ending."

The baby was born during the events of the last season, becoming one of the most talked-about moments among viewers. While some criticized it as a mere plot device, others praised the emotional weight it brought to the story.

Hwang noted that the baby was, in fact, central to his vision when planning both Seasons 2 and 3.

"The younger generation today seems to feel a sense of resignation, thinking there’s no bright future for them. How would a world where future generations have lost hope continue on? So, I think of the baby as our future. I believe we have a duty to pass it on to the next generation in a state that’s not worse than before," he explained.

"Through the efforts, conflicts and sacrifices made to protect that child, I wanted to convey a message. And that was only possible if the child was inside the game. The baby is a symbol of the future generation, or of conscience."

Not hero, but human

According to the director, "Squid Game" is not a hero story where Gi-hun saves the world. Rather, he wanted to portray an ordinary person, someone who symbolizes the frailty of humanity.

"He entered like a hero, but ultimately failed to become one and I wanted to show the image of an ordinary person who, in the midst of overwhelming guilt, ends up blaming someone else for all his suffering. In the end, it’s only after killing Dae-ho that he realizes this was just another expression of his own guilt. He’s foolish and weak, but through such a person, I wanted to show him standing up again and ultimately sacrificing himself for the baby."

Hwang mentioned that this work closely mirrors his own life and many around him have commented that Gi-hun reminds them of him.

"The characters actually originated from my own family history and experiences," the director said, admitting that this connection makes it hard for him to view the work objectively.

"I truly poured my heart and soul into every moment without holding back, so I believe I did the absolute best I could within my capabilities."