%20(15).png)
.png)
[Cover picture by No Ju-han/Netflix]
The Truth About "Squid Game" and Those Viral Photos: Is It Based on Real-Life Events?
Okay, let’s set the scene. You’re scrolling through TikTok, and you see a video claiming that Squid Game—the Netflix series that had us all binge-watching and questioning capitalism—is actually based on real-life events from the 1980s. The video shows creepy, AI-generated photos of what looks like the game’s iconic maze-like staircases and people in eerie blue tracksuits. The comments section? Total chaos. People are buying into this theory like it’s gospel. But is there any truth to it? Let’s dive into the wild story behind these claims and figure out what’s fact and what’s pure internet fabrication.
The Viral Theory: "Squid Game" and the "Brotherhood House"
The viral theory linking Squid Game to the "Brotherhood House" is as dark as it is compelling. This real-life facility, often referred to as the “Auschwitz of Korea,” operated in South Korea from 1976 to 1987 and was originally intended to be a welfare center to house the homeless. However, what was supposed to be a safe haven turned into a dystopian nightmare. Vulnerable individuals—including children, the homeless, and even random bystanders—were forcibly removed from the streets, assigned identification numbers, and subjected to unimaginable abuse. Survivors of the Brotherhood House described an environment eerily similar to the fictional world of Squid Game. Inmates were tortured, starved, and forced to work in horrific conditions with no escape.
The connection to Squid Game exploded on TikTok after a user named blink_loveee10 posted a now-viral video claiming that the series was directly inspired by the Brotherhood House. The video showcased "evidence" in the form of haunting photos—depicting pink-and-green interiors reminiscent of Squid Game’s iconic maze-like staircases—and images of people in blue tracksuits that resembled the costumes worn by the contestants in the series. The post garnered over 3.5 million views, sparking debates and wild theories across social media platforms.
While it’s easy to see how the similarities between the real-life Brotherhood House and the fictional Squid Game could lead to such assumptions, the theory is flawed. The viral photos used to support the claim weren’t real—they were AI-generated artwork that spiraled out of control online (more on that later). Still, the shocking brutality of the Brotherhood House left scars on South Korea’s history, which makes it understandable why fans connected the dots to the themes of exploitation, desperation, and survival in Squid Game.
The Facts About the "Brotherhood House"
The truth about the "Brotherhood House" is even darker than the viral theories suggest. This was a very real facility, created in the 1970s as part of South Korea’s efforts to “clean up” the streets ahead of the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The government initiated a program to remove homeless people, beggars, and even those who were simply found wandering the streets without identification. These individuals were forcibly rounded up by the police and taken to facilities like the Brotherhood House. What awaited them behind its walls was a horror show of abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
Survivors recall living conditions that mirrored the worst dystopian nightmares. One survivor, Yoon Sang-mo, shared how prisoners were subjected to physical violence, especially if they failed to meet their daily work quotas. Tasks included grueling labor in the facility’s manufacturing plants, where they were paid nothing for their efforts. Those who couldn’t keep up were beaten with baseball bats. Another survivor, Han Jong-sun, recounted a harrowing moment when a young boy was beaten to death by a leader after begging for forgiveness. His description of the incident is chilling: “The boy collapsed, his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and blood started pouring out.”
Women were also subject to unimaginable abuse. Survivor Park Sun-i revealed that she became pregnant after being raped by both a leader and a fellow prisoner. She later escaped while pregnant but was forced to give her child up for adoption. These stories underline the facility’s horrific environment, where basic human rights were completely ignored.
Although the facility was shut down in 1987 following public outcry and an investigation led by prosecutor Kim Yong-won, justice was fleeting. The director of the Brotherhood House, Park In-kyun, served a mere two and a half years in prison for minor charges like embezzlement and was acquitted of all charges related to illegal imprisonment or abuse. He lived out the rest of his life without facing full accountability, dying of natural causes in 2016. To this day, no one has been properly punished for the human rights atrocities committed at the Brotherhood House.
What About Squid Game?
Given the eerie similarities, it’s easy to see why people might think Squid Game was inspired by the Brotherhood House. But here’s the truth: there’s no direct connection.
In interviews, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that his inspiration came from Japanese manga and anime, particularly Battle Royale and Liar Game. He also drew from his own financial struggles during the 2009 Ssangyong workers' strike in South Korea, where factory employees staged a 77-day strike against mass layoffs. The government’s brutal response to the protest highlighted the cutthroat nature of capitalism, which became a core theme in Squid Game.
Hwang emphasized that Squid Game was meant to be an allegory for modern capitalist society, focusing on how economic inequality forces people to make impossible choices. The children's games used in the series were meant to contrast innocence with brutality—not to reference real-life torture games.
The AI Photos That Fooled Everyone
Now, about those viral photos. Turns out, they were created by an online artist named Efe Levent in 2024 using artificial intelligence. The images featured bright pink and green interiors that looked eerily similar to Squid Game's set design, along with people in blue tracksuits. Levent posted the pictures on Instagram with the caption “Olim?” (meaning “What if?”), but the internet ran wild with them, spinning conspiracy theories about how they were connected to the Brotherhood House or Squid Game.
When people started using his work to back up the theory, Levent responded, saying, “I noticed this picture really went viral all over the world. I’m just glad people got to see it lol.” So, no, those photos aren’t from the Brotherhood House or a secret underground Squid Game—they’re just the work of a very talented (and likely amused) artist.
So, What's the Bottom Line?
While the Brotherhood House and Squid Game share unsettling similarities, there’s no evidence that the series was directly inspired by those real-life events. The horrors of the Brotherhood House were a tragic chapter in South Korea’s history, and the internet’s attempt to connect them to a fictional Netflix series is, at best, a stretch.
The viral photos? 100% AI-generated. The plot of Squid Game? Inspired by Japanese manga, capitalism critiques, and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s personal experiences—not real-life torture camps.
Why We Love the Chaos
This whole situation is peak internet culture: take one part truth (the Brotherhood House), add a splash of fiction (Squid Game), sprinkle in some AI-generated photos, and you’ve got a conspiracy theory served piping hot. While it’s important to separate fact from fiction, this story shows how deeply Squid Game resonated with fans. Its themes of inequality and exploitation feel so real that people wanted to believe it had a real-life basis.
At the end of the day, Squid Game isn’t about true events—it’s about reflecting the harsh realities of society. But let’s face it, the memes and TikToks about this theory? Chef’s kiss.
Keep your eyes peeled for more truth bombs and viral breakdowns, only here at Woke Waves Magazine. ✨
#SquidGame #BrotherhoodHouse #NetflixDrama #GenZMyths
