Where was the Netflix series Squid Game filmed?

It’s impossible to miss Squid Game on Netflix: the South Korean series is breaking all records and confirming that Seoul, among other places, has become the favorite playground for thrill-seekers. But behind the neon sets and chilling masks, one question keeps coming up: where was Squid Game really filmed? Between well-hidden hangars near Gyeonggi-do, the capital’s bustling alleyways, and remote islands that now attract curious visitors on Google Maps, the filming is full of anecdotes, not always known by fans. Focus on what happens when the dorm door slams and the games are about to begin.

Amazing sets: where did the iconic scenes in Squid Game on Netflix really come from?

Forget the blockbuster-style green screens, the first season was filmed almost entirely in South Korea. Daejeon, in the center of the country, served as the team’s headquarters, with its outsized studios transformed into formidable arenas. It features the famous dormitories, the hopscotch court, and even the cringe-inducing glass bridge puzzle.

But the magic also works on Seungbongdo Island, located in the Ongjin district, not far from the port of Incheon. A secluded spot where we readily imagine the contestants disembarking, thrown into the void under the watchful eye of the pink guards. And of course, Seoul is no exception: several key scenes, particularly in the streets, immerse the characters in this megalopolis where poverty rarely smiles. 📸

• Daejeon : Main studios for games and dormitories 🏝️
• Seungbongdo Island : The mysterious exteriors of the game base 🌆
• Seoul : Some urban scenes before recruitment 🗺️
• Gyeonggi-do : Secondary locations for aerial views Nothing artificial: each location adheres to the series’ ultra-colorful but downright creepy aesthetic. Curious onlookers, on the other hand, are now tracking down these sites by snapping selfies in front of the recognizable facades of Netflix’s most memorable drama.

Does Squid Game Island really exist?

A little myth that’s going viral on TikTok and Reddit: Seungbongdo, the island from Squid Game, really does exist. Nestled off the coast of Incheon, it has gained a monumental spotlight since 2021. That said, the reality is less glamorous than the fiction: no hooded guards on the horizon, just a few fishermen and quiet beaches. Fans continue to explore it, but at their own risk (no marbles to play with, I promise). 🏖️

Accessible by ferry

• : Visits are possible, depending on the season 🍜 Local shops
• : the dalgona recipe for the game was popularized there 🚫 No real Squid Game organization
• : the daredevils’ disappointment This is the kind of spot that allows the series to maintain its realistic feel while still stimulating the imagination. It’s enough to make you wonder which corner of Korea will be the next to go from local to global cult status. Behind the scenes: inspirations and hidden details from the filming of Squid Game

It’s impossible to talk about Squid Game without mentioning the social context of South Korea, which is omnipresent in the series. The scenes sometimes recall real events, such as the SsangYong Motor employees’ strike in 2009. More than 2,600 people were left on the street, a revolt that was repressed in commando style. The creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, says it himself: this kind of social drama inspired each sequence where the noose tightens.

Fun fact: the series could have been very different without the creator’s manga influences and his own personal struggles. Battle Royale and Liar Game were never far away when it came to imagining the atmosphere… but with a radical choice: replacing the convoluted traps with universal children’s games. Ultimately, it’s this deadly simplicity that makes Squid Game on Netflix so powerful.

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Social inspirations

• : unemployment, debt, and precarity are very present 👾 Pop aesthetics and childish games
• : psychological twist guaranteed 📆 Filmed in 2020
• : pandemic required, concrete atmosphere on set Beyond the sets, South Korea shines for its ability to transform hardship into corrosive and addictive pop works. And the audience isn’t fooled: every detail of the set becomes a mini-legend on social media. Squid Game, a Netflix saga that’s exported… to America? Season 3 marks the end of the main series, but Netflix intends to capitalize on the phenomenon. A rumor is circulating: a possible American spin-off, perhaps filmed in New York or Los Angeles, where private clubs are said to be experimenting with shady “Squid Game USA”-style experiments.

Fans are already dreaming of seeing Cate Blanchett—who appeared in the last season—as the game director. The project is intriguing: rumors of a cult director (David Fincher) and a promise to maintain the Korean tension, but in a US version. It remains to be seen if Netflix will be able to go beyond simple plagiarism and create a new legend.

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Potential spin-off to follow

: new city, new games

• 🎬 Netflix production : big budget, international casting hoped for
• 🤩 Eager fans : hashtag #SquidGameUSA already launched on X
• In the meantime, nothing can erase the aura of Korean settings. But the next wave of selfies might take its setting from a New York avenue or a deserted Seoul neighborhood. It promises to be a great debate on TV show forums, though!