Korean man reportedly gets 4,000 calls a day because of Squid Game

The Korean Netflix series Squid Game, about a competition where people play children’s game and die if they lose, has been No. 1 on the charts this week. It’s even on its way to becoming one of Netflix’s most-watched series yet.

And if you’ve watched the series, then you’re familiar with the card that the soon-to-be players of the Squid Game receive. Essentially, after coming into contact with the businessman who promises them the opportunity of a lifetime to win big money, all they have to do is call the number on the back of his card and they’re in.

Well, apparently, the number on the back of that card isn’t just some fill-in number like your typical “555-5555s” that are used in Hollywood. According to The Korea Times, the number on the back of the card is real. And it’s become a big problem for the Korean resident who has the phone number.

In the Korea Times story, the man behind the number revealed that he gets around 4,000 calls per day from people who “want to be in the game.” For him, calls and texts have been coming in all through the day and night — and to his wife as well, whose phone number is just one digit off from his. He’s reportedly even had to take sleeping pills just to fall asleep due to all the stress it’s caused him.

Fortunately, it does look like there will be a resolution to this problem. While the man said it isn’t so easy to change numbers — as it’s linked to his business and is a number that he’s used for 10 years — the production studio behind Squid Games is reportedly working with him “to resolve the issue.” Though who knows what that will look like?

As an alternative, a Korean presidential candidate has also offered to buy the phone number from the man, as one can only imagine it’d be supremely helpful for his campaign to get 4,000 calls per day.

Netflix makes a giant Squid Game doll

Squid Game has become a huge hit around the world. And a little piece of the series has found a new home in the Philippines: a life-size replica of the Red Light, Green Light doll from Episode 1.

Located just outside the  Robinsons Galleria mall in Quezon City, the creepy robot doll had been placed at a crosswalk, the perfect place for a game of Red Light, Green Light. And if you cross against the red light… well, she turns her head around and stares at you with glowing, red eyes. There are no snipers involved, thank goodness. So you can make it across with your life even if you happen to go against the light.

With Squid Game being such a hit on Netflix, I think the life-size doll should definitely make its way to other cities around the world. And with Halloween right around the corner, I don’t think there’s a scarier photo opportunity around!

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h/t The A.V. Club