Thousands of fans gathered in Seoul on Saturday to celebrate the release of the final season of Squid Game, the global Netflix sensation that has become a symbol of South Korea’s cultural influence.
The third and final season dropped Friday, concluding the hit series that follows desperate contestants competing in deadly versions of childhood games for a life-changing cash prize.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who created the series nearly four years ago, said he had “poured everything” into the project. “While it’s sentimental to see it end,” he added, “there’s also a sense of relief.”
In a festive sendoff, fans marched near Seoul’s historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, some dressed in the signature pink uniforms of the show’s masked enforcers. Others carried oversized props from the series and waved the Squid Game flag.
“It’s ultimately a story about people,” said Park Sang-gyu, a fan who binge-watched the season overnight. “The show may be about games, but it mirrors so many real-life struggles.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Library was lit up with iconic scenes from the series, including the menacing Young-hee, the animatronic doll from one of the show’s most chilling games.
