Hwang Dong-hyuk

Biography:

Hwang Dong-hyuk (born May 26, 1971) is a South Korean filmmaker known for his work as a director, producer, and screenwriter. He gained international recognition for creating the Netflix survival drama Squid Game (2021–present) and the crime drama film Silenced (2011). The success of Squid Game led Netflix to add Hwang’s earlier films, including Silenced, Miss Granny, and The Fortress, to its catalog in the U.S. and other countries. In 2022, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the Squid Game episode “Red Light, Green Light,” making him the first South Korean to achieve this honor. He was also awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, South Korea’s highest recognition for contributions to arts and culture, by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Hwang was born and raised in Ssangmun-dong, Seoul, South Korea, where he developed a deep interest in manhwa and manga, spending hours at comic book cafes. After earning a degree in communications from Seoul National University, he wrote and directed several short films, including Our Sad Life and A Puff of Smoke. He later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production at the University of Southern California.

He launched his filmmaking career in 2000 with short films such as Heaven & Hell and Desperation. His graduation thesis project, Miracle Mile (2004), featured Karl Yune as a Korean-American taxi driver who helps a young Korean woman locate her long-lost brother in the U.S. The film was showcased at over 40 international film festivals and earned several awards, including the Directors Guild of America Student Film Award and a Student Emmy Award.

Hwang made his feature film debut with My Father (2007), which was inspired by the true story of Korean-American adoptee Aaron Bates. The film follows a U.S. Army soldier stationed in Korea who appears on national television to find his birth parents, only to discover that his father is on death row. Starring Daniel Henney and Kim Yeong-cheol, the film received praise for its emotional depth and exploration of themes like forgiveness, cultural identity, and the death penalty.

His second film, Silenced (2011), was one of the most impactful releases in Korean cinema. Based on a novel by Gong Ji-young and starring Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi, the film exposes real-life abuse at the Gwangju Inhwa School for the Deaf, where students were mistreated and sexually assaulted by faculty members. Initially hesitant to take on the project, Hwang ultimately felt it was a story that needed to be told. He aimed to raise awareness of structural issues such as sexual violence, corruption, and government negligence. The film, which attracted 4.7 million viewers, sparked public outrage and led to the passage of the “Dogani Bill,” which abolished the statute of limitations for sex crimes against minors and the disabled. Hwang remarked that while films alone cannot change society, Silenced demonstrated the power of cinema in influencing social change.

In a shift from his previous serious themes, Hwang directed Miss Granny (2014), a comedy-drama about a 74-year-old woman who magically regains the appearance of her 20-year-old self. Starring Na Moon-hee and Shim Eun-kyung, the film was a major box office success, attracting over 8.65 million viewers. Hwang noted that while he had previously been known for darker, socially conscious films, he also wanted to showcase his ability to create lighthearted, entertaining stories.

His next film, The Fortress (2017), was an adaptation of Kim Hoon’s novel Namhansanseong. The historical drama, starring Lee Byung-hun and Kim Yoon-seok, depicts the Second Manchu Invasion of Korea and the internal conflicts within the royal court. The film was both a commercial and critical success, selling 3.8 million tickets in Korea, being distributed to 28 countries, and winning multiple awards.

Hwang conceived the idea for Squid Game in 2008 during a financial crisis when he and his family were struggling with debt. He found inspiration in Japanese survival manga like Battle Royale, Liar Game, and Gambling Apocalypse: Kaiji, which mirrored his own difficulties. He envisioned a story that would serve as an allegory for modern capitalist society and its extreme competition. However, Korean studios initially rejected his script, deeming it too grotesque and unrealistic. Over the next decade, Hwang directed three successful films—Silenced, Miss Granny, and The Fortress—before reviving the Squid Game concept.

By the late 2010s, Netflix had expanded its focus to international content and sought to produce more original Korean series. In 2018, Kim Minyoung, a Netflix content executive, saw potential in Hwang’s script and championed it. Netflix officially greenlit Squid Game in 2019, initially titling it Round Six to make it more marketable internationally. However, Hwang pushed to keep the original name, believing its cryptic nature would intrigue audiences. With Netflix’s support, he expanded his script into a nine-episode series, allowing for deeper character development and exploration of themes. Hwang’s goal was for Squid Game to become the most-watched show on Netflix in the U.S. for at least one day, a goal it ultimately surpassed.

The immense success of Squid Game led to global acclaim, and discussions about a second season began soon after its release. Initially hesitant due to the exhausting workload of writing and directing the entire first season alone, Hwang later confirmed plans for a second season, which premiered on December 26, 2024. He expressed interest in further developing the backstory of the enigmatic Front Man and his relationship with his brother, police officer Hwang Jun-ho. He also aimed to highlight broader issues with law enforcement, which he believed were relevant worldwide.

Hwang designed the games in Squid Game Season 2 to be universally recognizable, ensuring they remained simple yet engaging for global audiences. The series continued to explore themes of social inequality, human nature, and survival. Following its massive success, a third and final season was announced, set to release in 2025.

Hwang’s accomplishments with Squid Game led to Netflix distributing his earlier films, further solidifying his influence in both Korean and global cinema.