Hwang Dong-hyuk, the Korean filmmaker behind "Squid Game," has spoken about his journey to create the series after a decade of personal hardship. He pitched the idea in 2009 and waited for a year before finding positive feedback from investors and actors. He returned to the idea when he reread the script in 2018, with a conviction that the world had evolved into a more familiar version of the survival game genre. The series's production design was influenced by the psychological evolution of the character Oh Il-nam, the architect of the games. Hwang believes that the series will appeal more to a global audience due to its unique appeal and appeal to Korean viewers. He also highlighted the need to recognize the people who create the systems that create inequality rather than allies.