The final season of Squid Game dropped on June 27 and left fans reeling. The ending shocked viewers as Song Gi Hun, played by Lee Jung Jae, made the ultimate sacrifice during the last game. Instead of walking away a winner, he chose to fall from the platform to make a statement. His death ensured that a baby, the three-day-old daughter of player Kim Jun Hi, would win the prize and symbolize a new beginning.
In a recent interview with iMBC, director Hwang Dong Hyuk revealed that this ending was not the original plan. He initially considered a more hopeful version, where Gi Hun survives, shuts down the games, and reunites with his daughter in the United States. But as the world changed, so did the story. The director said the world now feels darker, with more inequality, war, and fear than ever before. That shift inspired a more meaningful but heartbreaking finale.
‘Squid Game’ creator reveals the ending idea he initially had:
“Back then, it was having Gi-hun end the game, in one way or another, and leave alive and go see his daughter in America. So originally, I thought the person who witnesses the American recruiter woman would be… pic.twitter.com/vyp8tvaABK
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 3, 2025
The baby’s win wasn’t random. According to the director, it represented future generations and the hope that the world could still change. Following the premiere of the final season, the ending stirred many online debates, with viewers expressing their discontent. This marks a stark contrast with critics, who have praised the series as a whole (including its finale).
