Netflix removes scene from Squid Game after incident

Within a week of its release it became one of Netflix’s most-watched series of all time, but now Squid Game has received attention for something other than its praise-worthy performances and unique yet terrifying plot.

Netflix has announced that they will be removing a scene from the first episode of the South Korean drama after allegedly featuring a real-life phone number.

The number is included in the series on a business card handed to the lead character, Seong Gi-Hun, which ends up being his invite to play in the game.

Viewers have evidently been curious to try and call the number themselves and the real owner has reportedly been inundated with calls 24/7.

A man in his 40s from the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea has claimed that he’s been receiving “endless” calls since the show premiered on Netflix last month.

“It has come to the point where people are reaching out day and night due to their curiosity. It drains my phone’s battery and it turns off,” the man told Money Today.

“At first, I didn’t know why, then my friend told me that my number came out [in the series].”

In a statement to The Independent, a Netflix spokesperson said: “Together with the production company, we are working to resolve this matter, including editing scenes with phone numbers where necessary.”

While the number has reportedly been removed in a few territories so far, it remains in the episode on Netflix Australia at the time of writing.

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Shortly after the Korean man claimed that he was being bombarded with calls, a South Korean presidential candidate offered him $116,000 AUD in exchange for the now-famous number.

Huh Kyung-young, who announced his bid for the presidency last month, took to Facebook to make the request.

“I heard that the owner of the phone number showed on a business card in Squid Game is suffering serious damage from prank calls. I would like to buy the number for 100 million won.”

Squid Game, which has been described as a mix between The Hunger Games and Saw, follows a group of strangers playing a variety of children’s games for a cash prize.

The series is currently on track to claim the title of Netflix’s most popular show of all time from this year’s earlier hit Bridgerton.

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