Is The “Squid Game” Based On A Webtoon?

Alright, let’s talk about Squid Game—the show that single-handedly ruined childhood nostalgia and turned hopscotch into a high-stakes psychological thriller. Who knew that Red Light, Green Light could be more terrifying than a job interview?

Or that I’d start side-eyeing my piggy bank, debating whether playing for my life might actually be a more solid financial plan than my current budget? (Spoiler: I’d be eliminated in round one. Probably before they even explained the rules.)

But this show? It didn’t just entertain. It emotionally drop-kicked me, flipped my sanity like a pancake, and left me at 3 AM questioning all my life choices while hugging a blanket for emotional support.

It shook me to my core and left me wondering why I suddenly felt emotionally invested in people competing in deadly playground games.

Was Squid Game Originally A Webtoon?

Debt. Desperation. And most disturbingly—could I actually betray my bestie for ₩45.6 billion?

(I’d love to say no, but let’s be honest, we’d at least need to talk about it.) And naturally, with such a visually striking and psychologically intense series, I started asking myself: was Squid Game based on a webtoon or a comic?

Because if Squid Game was a webtoon, I’d be clicking ‘Next Episode’ faster than my emotions could recover from each twist. Did Squid Game start as a webtoon or was it always meant to be a live-action series?

The answer? Nope! Not even a little. But hold on to your dalgona candy, because the truth is even juicier than that.

The answer? Nope! Not even a little. But hold on to your dalgona candy, because the truth is even juicier than that.

Wait … Was Squid Game Almost A Webtoon? The Plot Thickens!

Before Squid Game became the global phenomenon that had people in matching tracksuits screaming at their TVs, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk actually considered turning it into a webtoon.

Back in 2018, he thought, “Hey, maybe I’ll start with a digital comic first. If it takes off, I can turn it into a drama.” Sounds like a solid plan, right?

Well, Netflix had other ideas.

When they expanded their South Korean operations, Hwang saw his shot and took it.

So instead of a Squid Game webtoon, we got a full-blown, heart-pounding, sweat-inducing survival drama that had us all gripping our couches for dear life.

So instead of a Squid Game webtoon, we got a full-blown, heart-pounding, sweat-inducing survival drama that had us all gripping our couches for dear life.

Manga Vibes? Squid Game and Its Webtoon-Like DNA

While Squid Game isn’t based on a webtoon, I can’t ignore the serious manga inspiration.

Fans of survival series like Battle Royale and Kaiji probably had déjà vu while watching. Desperate contestants? Check.

Deadly games? Double-check.

Nightmares included? Oh, you bet.

That stomach-churning dread where you just know things are going to get worse? Oh, absolutely. Hwang has openly admitted to drawing inspiration from these Japanese classics, which makes sense when you consider Squid Game’s nerve-wracking tension and absolutely zero chill.

But here’s where it gets even more fascinating.

The most uniquely Korean thing about Squid Game? The use of traditional children’s games as a metaphor for brutal societal struggles.

Unlike Western survival game stories that go full sci-fi dystopia, Squid Game hits you where it hurts. It digs into childhood nostalgia and twists it into something terrifying.

Unlike Western survival game stories that go full sci-fi dystopia, Squid Game hits you where it hurts. It digs into childhood nostalgia and twists it into something terrifying. It’s like reliving your playground days, except now the stakes aren’t just winning a game—they’re surviving at all.

And let me tell you, this part wrecked me.

While Western audiences might have seen the games as a cool gimmick, I saw something much deeper. These weren’t just fun childhood pastimes. They were life training, whether we realized it or not.

Winning meant you were tough, adaptable, and knew how to navigate competition.

Losing? Well, in Korea, failure isn’t something that comes with a friendly pat on the back. From school entrance exams to job hunting, the pressure to succeed is real.

If you’ve ever heard of nunchi (which is basically social awareness on steroids), you’ll know how crucial it is in Squid Game. The contestants weren’t just playing games. They were reading the room, forming alliances, and trying to avoid stepping on the wrong toes—just like real life, but with a slightly lower chance of actual death.

Why Does Everyone Think Squid Game Is a Webtoon or Comic? Let’s Break It Down!

You can thank South Korea’s webtoon-to-drama pipeline for this delightful confusion.

These days, so many hit K-dramas (Sweet Home, All of Us Are Dead, Tower of God) started as webtoons that people just assume anything visually gripping and wildly successful must have come from one.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have been mad if it had.

Imagine Squid Game as a sleek, hyper-detailed webtoon, packed with dramatic zoom-ins, villainous smirks, and those evil cliffhangers that have you promising, “Just one more episode!”—only to realize the sun is rising and your responsibilities are calling.

Fan-Made Squid Game Webtoons? Oh, You Know They Exist!

Even though Squid Game wasn’t born as a webtoon, that hasn’t stopped passionate fans from whipping out their digital pens and creating some wild, unofficial adaptations—because why not relive that emotional rollercoaster in illustrated form?

There are plenty of unofficial adaptations floating around, reimagining the games, adding backstories, or creating alternate endings that won’t leave you emotionally shattered (bless them).

There are plenty of unofficial adaptations floating around, reimagining the games, adding backstories, or creating alternate endings that won’t leave you emotionally shattered (bless them).

But no matter how fun these are, they remain unofficial and totally separate from the original series.

Final Verdict: Squid Game May Not Be A Webtoon, But It’s Got That Energy!

At the end of the day, Squid Game is 100% an original work by Hwang Dong-hyuk. No webtoon. No manga adaptation. Just pure, gut-wrenching, brilliantly crafted storytelling.

But its influences from survival manga and webtoon-esque aesthetics make it easy to see why so many people assumed otherwise.

Now, the real question is: would I survive Squid Game if it were a webtoon? Or would I be the tragic side character who gets eliminated in the first chapter for comedic effect?

Or would I be stuck on that one agonizing panel forever, frozen mid-scream? Let me know—I need fellow survivors to emotionally spiral with.

And hey, if you love deep dives into K-drama madness, hit that subscribe button and drop a comment! Let’s keep the K-drama obsession alive. No life-or-death games required.