The South Korean series “Squid Game” is one of the most trending shows these days, worldwide! But did the number used in the show is active – and the owner is feeling frustrated (furious, perhaps?) after getting over 4,000 calls a day since the show was aired. Uh-oh.
“Squid Game” Owner Receives Thousands of Calls Per Day
If you haven’t heard yet, “Squid Game” is a South Korean TV series wherein hundreds of cash-strapped, debt-ridden people joined a reality-TV-style game show with billions of Korean won in prizes. But the “reality show” part is for real – with the losers getting eliminated in brutal ways.
In short, anyone who loses in the game also loses his/her life. Though the game’s prize is huge, there are no runners up or consolation prices because even to the very end, the loser gets totally eliminated.
It’s a crazy game show that’s so heavy on the graphics and brutal scenes that you’d be happy it’s not a real game. Viewers would surely think that no one in their right mind would join in such a game in real life.
Yet curious (or interested?) fans tried calling the number on the game – and were surprised that it actually rings!
The owner, only revealed as Mr. A, expressed frustration over the disruption of his life after his number was used by the show.
“I’ve had to delete more than 4,000 numbers from my phone. It has come to the point where people are reaching out day and night due to their curiosity. It drains my phone’s battery and [it] turns off,” Mr. A said.
“At first, I didn’t know why, then my friend told me that my number came out in Squid Game.”
He’s been using the number for over 10 years.
What Happened in “Squid Game” Number Mix-Up?
So, why did the mix-up happen? Shows usually omit certain numbers or details to avoid a coincidence like this one.
In Korea, phone numbers have 10 to 11 digits. On the show, there are actually just 8 numbers shown. But instead of removing the last digits, the crew removed the first ones – and those corresponded to the area code.
So, locals dialing the number can still get through if that number exists in real life.
The mistake could be costly for Netflix who could be fined as much as 50 million won (US$42,365).