The Surprising Origins Of Squid Game's Iconic Doll

For South Korean viewers, the "Squid Game" doll has an extra layer of creepiness, because it's a very familiar and lovable figure from their school days. In an interview with "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (via The Hollywood Reporter), actress Jung Ho-yeon (who plays Sae-byeok in the show) shared the origins of the memorable character. 

"When we were at the school, there were characters — one is a boy, and one is the girl," she said. "The boy's name was Chulsoo, and the girl's name was Younghee, and she's the one."

That's right — while non-Korean viewers "only" see an unnerving giant doll with a targeting system that guns down everyone who loses the Red Light, Green Light game, Korean viewers have to witness an actual, beloved figure from their childhood killing characters by the hundred. Ah, "Squid Game," you always have room for yet another layer of existential horror.