Thousands of fans flocked to central Seoul on Saturday to mark the release of the final season of Squid Game, the globally acclaimed Korean drama that has become a powerful emblem of South Korea’s cultural influence, AFP reported.
The third and concluding season debuted on Netflix Friday, wrapping up the story of desperate individuals competing in lethal versions of childhood games for a life-changing cash prize.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk reflected on the journey, saying he had “poured everything” into the project since its launch nearly four years ago. “So while there’s a sense of sentimentality as it ends, there’s also relief,” he added.
The celebrations took place near Gyeongbokgung Palace, where fans dressed in the now-iconic pink jumpsuits and black masks worn by the show’s enforcers led a parade. Behind them marched others carrying oversized props from the series, including giant toys and the recognizable Squid Game flag.
Park Sang-gyu, a fan who binge-watched the entire final season overnight, said the show went far beyond its thrilling concept. “It’s more than just games — it’s a reflection of real-life struggles and human nature,” he noted.
Adding to the atmosphere, the Seoul Metropolitan Library was illuminated with projections of memorable scenes, including the chilling animatronic doll Young-hee from the show’s infamous “Red Light, Green Light” game.
Actor Lee Byung-hun, who portrays the enigmatic Front Man, described Squid Game as a “cultural phenomenon” that had “drawn one of the boldest lines in the history of Korean content.”
The show’s success has been historic. The first season still holds the record as Netflix’s most-watched series ever, with 265.2 million views. Season 2 amassed 192.6 million views so far, setting a new record for the most-watched premiere week on the platform and entering Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English TV chart within just three days. It currently ranks as the third-biggest season of a Netflix series in history.
The final season follows protagonist Gi-hun, played by Emmy Award winner Lee Jung-jae, as he returns to the deadly competition in an attempt to dismantle the brutal system from within.
Alongside K-pop juggernaut BTS and Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film Parasite, Squid Game is seen as one of the defining forces behind South Korea’s rise as a global cultural powerhouse.
