Hwang Dong-hyuk, the mastermind behind the global phenomenon Squid Game, has revealed that despite the show’s immense popularity, his personal financial gain from the first season was surprisingly low. This revelation has sparked a conversation about the fairness of creator compensation in the streaming era, particularly when shows achieve extraordinary success.
“Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much,” Dong-hyuk admitted in an interview with the BBC. This statement comes as a shock to many, considering the show’s record-breaking viewership – watched by over 142 million households in its first four weeks – and the estimated $900 million in revenue generated for Netflix. The show’s popularity even led to a surge in Netflix subscriptions, with an additional 4.4 million subscribers signing up in the wake of its release.
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The director attributed his low earnings to the terms of his initial contract with Netflix, which saw him forfeiting all intellectual property rights in exchange for an upfront payment. “I’m not that rich,” he clarified to The Guardian. “But I do have enough. I have enough to put food on the table. And it’s not like Netflix is paying me a bonus. Netflix paid me according to the original contract.”
Dong-hyuk’s situation highlights a growing concern within the creative community about the current streaming model. Traditionally, creators could expect royalties or residuals based on a show’s continued success. However, streaming platforms typically offer a fixed upfront fee, regardless of how well a show performs. This can leave creators feeling undervalued, especially when their work generates significant profits for the platform.
The director’s decision to create a second season was partly motivated by financial considerations. He candidly stated, “Money! Although the first season was such a huge global success, I honestly didn’t make much. So doing the second season will help compensate me for the success of the first one.” However, it wasn’t just about the money. Dong-hyuk also expressed a desire to complete the story, stating that he “didn’t fully finish the story” in the first season.
The production of Squid Game was a physically and emotionally taxing experience for Dong-hyuk. He revealed that he lost “eight or nine” teeth due to stress during filming. This personal sacrifice underscores the dedication and passion he poured into the project.
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Dong-hyuk’s candidness about his financial situation has resonated with other creators in South Korea and beyond. Many are calling for greater transparency and fairer compensation models within the streaming industry. They argue that creators deserve a greater share of the profits generated by their work, especially when it achieves global success on the scale of Squid Game.
The second season of Squid Game premieres globally on Netflix on December 26th, promising more thrills, chills, and social commentary. Fans are eager to see how Dong-hyuk will further explore the themes of wealth inequality and the human condition, while hoping that this time, the creator himself gets a bigger slice of the pie.
