Movies

The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Squid Game’s VIPs in Season 3

BBG News

The show “Squid Game” primarily focuses on its financially struggling characters, hailing from the lower and working classes, who participate in a lethal competition offering a tiny hope of escaping capitalism’s grip. Despite some ruthless Player characters potentially eliciting viewer disapproval, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk cleverly reflects late-stage capitalism through this series, ensuring that the real culprits of the violence are identified: an elite group of extremely wealthy individuals, referred to as VIPs. Introduced in the seventh episode of Season 1, titled “V.I.P.S,” this powerful circle comprises six affluent English-speaking men who attend the final stages of the game personally.

In the initial season, the high-profile participants were referred to by the actors portraying them as “complete fools” and “filthy rich individuals,” and their characters indeed embody these traits. The self-absorbed characters, who wear masks, are doted on at every opportunity by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and the Game’s staff, with their lives being gambled upon as if they were horses in a race. Oh Il-nam, the leader of these VIPs, amassed his own fortune through lending money. In the first season, Oh Il-nam enrolled himself in the Game as Player 001 to pass the time while he was dying from a terminal illness. From his comfortable deathbed, Oh Il-nam confided in Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) that he came up with the idea for the Game because he was lacking entertainment.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I eagerly anticipate the conclusion of Squid Game in Season 3 on June 27. Intriguingly, the VIP characters assume a more substantial role as they plunge to new depths of moral decay. In episode 3, these characters discard their masks and participate directly in the game, taking lives into their own hands, as described by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk through an interpreter.

This time around, these VIPs swap their dinner attire and extravagant animal masks for the iconic pink suits and black masks of the soldiers, and trade champagne glasses for machine guns to chase down and eliminate the “losers” themselves. In contrast to Season 1, this group of VIPs no longer hesitates to unveil their true identities, a stark departure from their previous facade.

According to the creator of Squid Game, the increased involvement of VIPs in Season 3 is inspired by his observations of the real world. In the past, those who wielded power and controlled the system were often hidden from view, operating behind the scenes like a secretive conspiracy. However, he notes that this is no longer the case, particularly in America. Nowadays, we discuss oligarchies frequently, but the owners of big tech companies are becoming more visible, openly supporting their chosen candidates with their wealth. The individuals who truly control power and the system are no longer content to remain hidden. Instead, they’re removing their masks, proclaiming, “We’re in charge. We run everything.

2020 marked the year when Squid Game was filmed, a time when there were approximately 2,000 billionaires worldwide with a combined wealth of around $8 trillion. Fast forward to 2025, and this number has swelled to over 3,000 billionaires, controlling over $16 trillion in total assets. To put that into perspective, one million seconds equates to approximately 11.5 days, while a billion seconds is about 31.5 years.

These wealthy individuals collectively hold more wealth than the GDP of any nation on earth except for the United States and China. Elon Musk, with his staggering net worth of $412 billion, eclipses the GDPs of all but 24 countries, including Denmark, Iran, and Malaysia.

The extravagant wedding of Jeff Bezos, the fourth-richest person globally, is set to take place during the same weekend as Squid Game Season 3’s release on Netflix. This private event is expected to cost a whopping $46 million and has necessitated the use of around 90 private jets for the transportation of its guests.

In creating the VIP characters for Squid Game, Hwang didn’t draw inspiration from any real individuals; however, it’s interesting to note that these characters bear a striking resemblance to influential figures within the growing billionaire class. Upon finishing Season 1, Hwang observed an uncanny similarity between one of the VIPs and Donald Trump, who holds the title of the wealthiest president in U.S. history. A comparable observation was made during the development of Season 3: “Elon Musk is quite the talk these days, isn’t he?” remarks Hwang, referring to the world’s richest person and a significant donor to Trump’s campaign. “Not only does he lead a massive tech company that seems to control the globe, but he’s also something of a showman. After penning Season 3, it was inevitable for me to think, ‘Some of these VIP characters do seem like they could be based on Elon Musk.’

How real-world political polarization inspired Squid Game Season 3

If Hwang had found himself in a more favorable situation after the 2008 financial crisis, perhaps he would have been less compelled to create the Squid Game series. The show was deeply influenced by the director’s personal hardships and the broader societal issues of increasing wealth disparity, which were manifested through the rise of cryptocurrencies, tech giants, and Donald Trump’s first term as president.

Ever since the premiere of “Squid Game”, it seems like the world has taken a turn for the worse. The ever-growing accumulation of wealth by an incredibly small percentage of Earth’s inhabitants is fueling global fascism. As Hwang puts it, “From every corner of the globe, including in European nations, we witness the rise of extreme right-wing factions seizing power.”

The divide between political ideologies continues to widen, and recent events in Korea are a stark reminder of this. The former president Yoon [Suk-yeol] declared martial law, only to be impeached. However, there remains a significant faction of his supporters who vehemently believe that all elections have been rigged. These circumstances are leading us towards heightened social conflict and division.

As a movie reviewer, I can’t help but draw parallels between the dystopian world portrayed in “Squid Game” and the reality we’re living in today – where social inequality and political polarization threaten to tear us apart. It’s a chilling reminder that fiction often mirrors life, and sometimes, it’s the darkest stories that hold the most truth.

Hwang was equally affected by the violent incidents on January 6, 2021, when a group of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol after his election loss in 2020. The riot was fueled by none other than Trump himself. “America stands for its liberal democracy,” he remarks, “and to witness such a deep split among citizens due to elections, voting, and political beliefs… that was truly eye-opening, I must say, which is another factor behind the recent events that sparked my inspiration.

In the television series Squid Game, the concept of global polarization is portrayed by intensifying the voting process within the game for Seasons 2 and 3. Surviving players are required to vote between every round. Those who choose “X” aim for the game to conclude, with the remaining prize money divided equally among them. On the other hand, those who select “O” wish to continue playing. In Squid Game, the boundaries of voting and democracy in a society with such immense inequality become apparent, as these rules have been established by those holding power. This setup fosters two opposing factions who grow increasingly hostile towards each other. The players are compelled to engage in internal conflicts, while disregarding the VIPs who live in unbridled luxury without ever having to participate in the game themselves.

In the second-to-last episode of the season, during the last round of the game, the remaining competitors hold a vote to decide which participant to eliminate next. Among their choices is an infant, seen as an easy target. One player suggests holding a vote on who should be eliminated, emphasizing the democratic aspect, seemingly ignoring the fact that they are discussing taking a life.

Previously, during elections, despite the inevitable disagreements rooted in political beliefs, we generally shared a common vision for the future and demonstrated a certain degree of understanding. However, as Hwang suggests, this seems to be changing now. We no longer view differing opinions as simply different; instead, we perceive opposing views as incorrect, with our own being the only valid one. Given the global trend of news and information being influenced by algorithms and artificial intelligence, I believe it’s crucial for us to ponder: Are elections still an effective means for shaping our future?

Read More

2025-06-27 11:07

Previous post A “chilling” new horror movie with a “creepy” Michelle Dockery performance is now streaming for free
Next post Date A Live: Spirit Echo revives the beloved action dating RPG, launching on iOS on July 30