Does the Squid Game island exist in real life? The filming location of the deadly games, explored

Will Hwang Jun Ho find the Squid Game island in Season 3? That is the question playing on everyone's mind as the Netflix series' final season inches closer each day.

While the mystery will be solved on June 27, 2025, we have decoded the enigma of the real island. As the show had us all believe, the games are not played on an actual island in real life.

The Squid Game island is Seongapdo Island, located near Incheon, Korea. However, the crew only used exterior shots of this private island, which serve as the eerie backdrop of the games.

The interiors for the show were shot on a set built in Daejeon Expo Science Park. The park is located in Yuseong District, Daejeon, South Korea, and was built for Taejŏn Expo '93.

More on this in our story.

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The Squid Game island was created in Daejeon Expo Science Park

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The deadly games in Squid Game are played in an undisclosed location, set on a remote island, probably far away from the main cities. While the actual filming for the games does not take place on an island, the crew did use exterior shots of Seongapdo Island to highlight the isolation of the place.

Located close to Incheon, Seongapdo Island is an inaccessible and privately owned island, which further adds to the mystery of the games' setting.

For the interior shots, like the players' dormitory, the iconic maze staircase, and the play area, the Squid Game crew built a set in Daejeon Expo Science Park.

This 13-meter-high, cold, and isolated dormitory features multiple rows of stacked beds, which gives it a prison-like feel. While the set was replicated in Season 2, new additions were made in the interiors for a fresh feel.

The most interesting aspect of the sophomore season was the choice provided to the players, where they could choose between X and O teams and put an end to the games.

In addition to the previous set design, large X and O signs with blue and red neon lights are embedded on the floor, as director Hwang Dong-hyuk explained to Asia News:

"In Season 2, the participants’ choice between ‘O’ and ‘X’ will split the group, causing them to take sides and ignite conflicts...This division is visually highlighted in the set design to emphasize the tension.''

The red and blue neon lights created an eerie atmosphere, increasing the tension of the scene.

Another notable change, visually incorporated in Squid Game Season 2, was the colorful maze staircase, where players walked to get to the main play area. The vibrant color scheme of the area is in stark contrast with the tensions and betrayals brewing between the characters.

The maze corridors became an important part of Season 2, as art director Chae Kyung-sun explained during a set tour to Asia News:

''The maze corridor area has been enlarged by about 30 pyeong, increasing from 95 pyeong (314 square meters) in Season 1 to around 120 pyeong (397 square meters) in Season 2. The height of the corridors has also been raised to 11 meters.''

She added:

''While developing the overall visual concept for ‘Squid Game,’ we focused on the question, ‘What colors could evoke a childlike sense of innocence?’ With this in mind, we chose pink as a signature color, making it the dominant shade in these spaces...As the characters navigate the maze corridors, conflicts, confrontations and incidents will take place.''

The corridor maze area became a highlight for Squid Game Season 2, and fans cannot wait to see what set additions will be introduced in Season 3, which will make the show even more exciting.

Squid Game Season 3 will premiere on Netflix on June 27, 2025.

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