The Real-Life Violence that Inspired ‘Squid Game’
A Factory Turned into a Battlefield
In May 2009, Ssangyong, a struggling car giant, announced it was laying off more than 2,600 people, or nearly 40% of its workforce. This was the beginning of an occupation of the factory and a 77-day strike that ended in clashes between strikers armed with slingshots and steel pipes and riot police wielding rubber bullets and tasers.
Many Lost Their Lives
The conflict did not end there. Five years later, union leader Lee Chang-kun held a sit-in for 100 days on top of one of the factory’s chimneys to protest a sentence in favor of Ssangyong against the strikers. He was supplied with food from a basket attached to a rope by supporters and endured hallucinations of a tent rope transformed into a writhing snake.
The Repercussions of the Strike
The repercussions of the strike, compounded by protracted legal battles, caused significant financial and mental strain for workers and their families, resulting in around 30 deaths by suicide and stress-related issues, Lee said. "Many have lost their lives. People had to suffer for too long," he said.
A Labor Leader’s Struggle
Lee vividly remembers the police helicopters circling overhead, creating intense winds that ripped away workers’ raincoats. He felt he could not give up. "We were seen as incompetent breadwinners and outdated labour activists who had lost their minds," he said. "Police kept beating us even after we fell unconscious – this happened at our workplace, and it was broadcast for so many to see."
Inspiration for ‘Squid Game’
Lee said he had been moved by scenes in the first season of "Squid Game" where Gi-hun struggles not to betray his fellow competitors. But he wished the show had spurred real-life change for workers in a country marked by economic inequality, tense industrial relations, and deeply polarized politics. "Despite being widely discussed and consumed, it is disappointing that we have not channelled these conversations into more beneficial outcomes," he said.
A Shadow of State Violence
The success of "Squid Game" in 2021 left him feeling "empty and frustrated." "At the time, it felt like the story of the Ssangyong workers had been reduced to a commodity in the series," Lee said. "Squid Game," the streaming platform’s most-watched series of all time, is seen as embodying the country’s rise to a global cultural powerhouse, part of the "Korean wave" alongside the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and K-pop stars such as BTS.
Conclusion
The real-life violence that inspired "Squid Game" is a testament to the struggles faced by workers in South Korea, a country marked by economic inequality, tense industrial relations, and deeply polarized politics. The show’s success has not brought about the change that many had hoped for, leaving some to feel frustrated and empty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the inspiration for "Squid Game"?
A: The show’s director and writer, Hwang Dong-hyuk, said the experiences of the main character Gi-hun were inspired by the violent Ssangyong strikes in 2009.
Q: What were the Ssangyong strikes?
A: The Ssangyong strikes were a series of labor disputes that began in 2009, resulting in a 77-day occupation of the factory and clashes between strikers and riot police.
Q: What were the repercussions of the strike?
A: The repercussions of the strike, compounded by protracted legal battles, caused significant financial and mental strain for workers and their families, resulting in around 30 deaths by suicide and stress-related issues.
Q: What is the "Korean wave"?
A: The "Korean wave" refers to the global popularity of South Korean culture, including K-pop, films, and TV shows, such as "Parasite" and "Squid Game".