Updated on December 15, 2024.
If a random man in the subway offered you money to play a game with him, would you do it? Pretty sure you’d think twice about that decision after watching Squid Game.
This globally popular Korean thriller stars Lee Jung-jae as gambling father Seong Gi-hun. Squid Game also stars Jung Ho-yeon as struggling older sister Kang Sae-byeok, Wi Ha-joon as determined police officer Hwang Jun-ho, Anupam Tripathi as the kind-hearted Ali, Kim Joo-ryoung as the sly street queen Han Mi-nyeo, Oh Young-soo as the wise elderly man with a secret Oh Il-nam, Park Hae-soo as Ivy Leaguer turned villain Cho Sang-woo, Lee Yoo-mi as comedic badass with a past Ji-yeong and Heo Sung-tae as resident bad guy Jang Deok-su.
The basis of Season One of Squid Game is that people in debt volunteer to play a series of childhood games for money—a lot of money. The catch: if you are eliminated, you die.
SPOLIERS: YOU’VE BEEN WARNED…
DAEJEON CITY, SOUTH KOREA
The majority of the show was filmed here. About an hour train ride from the heart of the capital, Seoul, is the city of Daejeon. Nicknamed the “Silicon Valley of Korea” for its many science parks, private and public research centers, it is the fifth largest metropolis. Many tech professionals working in biotech, nuclear, new drugs, hydro power, nuclear fusion, and various other professions have set up roots in this city. It’s no wonder why production chose here to set the entire series here in a studio. Fun Fact: Train To Busan, another Netflix show, was filmed in this city as well.
THREE PLACES NEARBY…
YUSEONG HOT SPRING
According to darejeon.go, the springs were used to heal soldiers during the Baekje Dynasty. The best place to put your feet up and soak in the healing properties. As well as the springs, the beauty of the nearby cherry blossoms is something not to be missed. The contestants could have used a proper soak in one of these.
PPURI PARK
The Park has over 100 statues and an genealogy museum! Not to mention campsites, ecology forest, fountains and more. The Park is free admission and is open year round. None of the contestants are fans of statues, especially the moving kinds.
HANBAT ARBORETUM
Not far from their Expo Park is Hanbat Arboretum. It is the largest living exhibit in all of Korea. Built in 2009, the grounds have several different gardens carrying near 10,000 rare and exotic plants. The massive grounds have many spots that you are bound to find a perfect hiding place soon enough. Unlike, the over 400 people in Squid Games.
WAIT before we end, here’s some behind the scenes photos…
You can catch all the games on Netflix today!
