Netflix’s Squid Game has captivated global audiences with its gripping narrative, intense suspense, and powerful social commentary. But for one South Korean woman, the show’s overwhelming success brought nothing but chaos and disruption. What started as a pop culture phenomenon quickly turned into a personal nightmare due to an unexpected oversight in the show’s production.
The Unforgettable Rise of Squid Game
Released in 2021, Squid Game became an instant global sensation. Its dystopian storyline follows Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, as he battles through life-or-death challenges to win a life-changing prize. With its unique concept and chilling depiction of human desperation, the show broke streaming records and became Netflix’s most-watched series of all time.
Three years later, Squid Game Season 2 has finally arrived, promising even darker twists, more brutal games, and larger-than-life stakes. But amidst all the hype surrounding the show, a troubling oversight in the first season cast a shadow over its success.
The Business Card That Sparked Real-Life Chaos
One of the most iconic elements in Squid Game is the mysterious business card given to contestants, inviting them to participate in the deadly games. The card, printed with an eight-digit phone number, serves as a key plot device in the series.
Unfortunately, the number displayed on the card wasn’t fictional. When paired with South Korea’s mobile prefix (010), it formed a real, functioning phone number.
This seemingly minor detail had devastating consequences for Kim Gil-young, a local business owner in Seongju, South Korea.
Inundated with Calls: The Woman Behind the Number
Kim Gil-young had been using the number featured in Squid Game for over a decade to run her business. But after the show’s release, her life was turned upside down.
Speaking to Money Today, she explained how fans of the show, driven by curiosity, bombarded her phone with calls and texts around the clock.
“Since the airing of Squid Game, I’ve been receiving texts and calls 24 hours a day, to the point where it’s difficult to live my daily life,” she said. “There are more than 4,000 numbers that I’ve had to delete from my phone. My phone battery would run out in half a day.”
Kim’s phone became practically unusable as the calls poured in day and night. Strangers reached out from across the globe, asking questions or simply dialing out of curiosity. What should have been a moment of celebration for South Korea’s cultural export became a relentless headache for Kim.
Netflix’s Response to the Mistake
As complaints from Kim mounted, Netflix and the production company Siren Pictures acted swiftly to address the issue. In a public statement, Netflix said, “Together with the production company, we are working to resolve this matter, including editing scenes with phone numbers where necessary.”
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Just weeks later, the phone number was removed from all scenes in the series. It was replaced with a fake, uncallable number (010-034) to ensure that no real-life individual would face similar issues.
While this change helped alleviate Kim’s situation, the damage had already been done. She described the ordeal as “a nightmare” that disrupted her personal and professional life.
Season 2 Avoids the Same Controversy
The infamous business card makes a return in Squid Game Season 2, but Netflix has learned from its mistake. This time, the number displayed is completely fictional, ensuring no one else will face the same ordeal as Kim Gil-young.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, reflected on the incident, acknowledging the importance of paying attention to every detail in production. “While the number was a small detail in the show, we understand how impactful it was in real life. We made sure such errors wouldn’t happen again,” he said.
Season 2: Darker, Bolder, and Bigger
Despite the controversy surrounding Season 1, the excitement for Season 2 remains at an all-time high. Hwang Dong-hyuk has teased that the new season will expand on the themes and scale of the original while introducing fresh twists that fans won’t see coming.
“What I can say for sure is that compared to Season 1, it’s going to be greater in scale. It’s going to be more intriguing,” Hwang shared in an exclusive interview.
The creator also hinted at a mix of emotions, stating, “There’s going to be a greater amount of entertaining factors, a huge range of experiences. It’s going to give you some really extremely sad, heartbreaking moments.”
Fans can expect a blend of comical and brutal games, shocking character arcs, and even more intricate storytelling as Seong Gi-hun reenters the game to challenge the shadowy figures behind the competition.
The Broader Implications of Netflix’s Mistake
The accidental inclusion of a real phone number in Squid Game serves as a cautionary tale for creators in the entertainment industry. Small oversights can have far-reaching consequences, particularly for productions with global reach.
Netflix’s swift response to the issue demonstrates the importance of accountability in addressing unintended harm. By editing the scenes and replacing the number, the streaming giant showed its commitment to resolving the problem and preventing similar incidents in the future.
A Reminder of the Human Impact
Kim Gil-young’s story is a sobering reminder of the unintended consequences that can arise from even the most successful projects. While Squid Game brought joy and excitement to millions, it also disrupted one woman’s life in a profound way.
Her resilience and persistence in seeking a resolution highlight the importance of protecting individuals’ privacy and well-being, especially in a world where entertainment often blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
The global success of Squid Game underscores the power of storytelling, but it also reveals the responsibility that comes with creating content for a worldwide audience. Netflix’s decision to rectify its mistake and ensure a fictional number appears in Season 2 reflects a growing awareness of these responsibilities.
As fans dive into the darker and more intense world of Squid Game Season 2, the hope is that lessons learned from the past will prevent similar mishaps in the future. Meanwhile, Kim Gil-young’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the real-life impact of even the smallest details in entertainment.
Squid Game may continue to dominate headlines for its gripping plot and shocking twists, but for Kim, it will always be a reminder of a chaotic chapter in her life—one she hopes will remain firmly in the past.
