After Squid Game, These Are 8 K-Dramas Based On Real-Life Stories You Need To Watch

Squid Game returned for its second season in December, sparking rumors on social media that it's based on a true story.

A viral TikTok claimed that in 1986, a “real-life Squid Game” took place in an underground bunker, where people had to play survival games, and the hosts were never found.

While Squid Game may not be based on a true event, here are some shows inspired by real-life stories.

Crash Landing on You: Se-ri (Son Ye-Jin), a self-made CEO, discovers she’s the heir to her father’s company after his death. While paragliding to clear her mind, a tornado blows her into North Korea, where she meets Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a North Korean soldier, who must bring her back to the station.

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth: Hwarang is inspired by a real group of elite warriors from the Kingdom of Silla, a Korean kingdom. While the romance and story are fictional, the K-drama is based on the historical concept of the Hwarang, young, handsome warriors, as described in poems and songs.

Youth of May: Set during the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, medical student Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) delays his graduation due to trauma. With friend Kyung-soo (Kwon Young-chan), they open an illegal clinic for students on the run. Nurse Myung-hee (Go Min-si) stands up against injustice, and sparks fly between her and Hee-tae as they fall in love.

The Red Sleeve: The series is a romantic K-drama based on the novel and real-life story of concubine Deok-im (Uibin) and King Yi San. The drama interprets their love, with Deok-im initially rejecting Yi San's offer to become a concubine. Though fictionalized, the core of their relationship and its tragic ending is rooted in real events documented by Yi San.

Fight for My Way: Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) and Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), childhood friends with big dreams, face life’s challenges years later. Ae-ra wants to be an announcer, while Dong-man is a former taekwondo fighter. As they navigate struggles, they begin to develop feelings for each other.

Taxi Driver: Taxi Driver is a revenge thriller inspired by real crimes in Korea, though the story itself is fictional. While it takes artistic liberties, the crimes depicted are based on real events, adding an eerie emotional depth to the plot.

The Glory: The show was inspired by writer Kim Eun-sook's daughter's disturbing question about bullying, leading her to explore the violence in Korea's school system. While the story is fictional, the bullying depicted reflects real incidents, including one from 2006, highlighting the ongoing issue in Korean institutions.

Reply 1988: Set in 1988 in Ssangmun-dong, Reply 1988 follows five teenage friends — Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol), Dong-ryong (Lee Dong-hwi), Choi Taek (Park Bo-gum), and Sun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo) — navigating challenges and growing up together with their families.