‘The 8 Show’ Director Details Why It’s ‘Different’ to ‘Squid Game'

"The 8 Show" director responds to the public's comparison between the recently premiered K-drama and the hit Netflix series "Squid Game."

In addition, director Han Jae Rim dishes on the story behind the title and the untold stories behind the K-drama.

Released on May 17, the psychological thriller K-drama instantly became a huge hit to viewers as it showcased a unique twist in a survival game.

Headlined by Ryu Jun Yeol, Lee Joo Young, Chun Woo Hee, Park Hae Joon, Bae Sung Woo, Lee Yeol Eum, Park Jung Min, and Moon Jung Hee, these 8 lead stars play the main characters who found themselves in the middle of the TV program called "The 8 Show."

In an interview with a local media outlet, director Han Jae Rim revealed why he ended up choosing "The 8 Show" as the title.

'The 8 Show' Director Reveals the Story Behind the Title

The newest Netflix series is based on the popular webtoons "Money Game" and "Pie Game," written by Bae Jin Soo.

As Han Jae Rim adapted this into a K-drama, the director revealed why they came up with the title "The 8 Show."

READ MORE: 'The 8 Show' Director Calls THIS Lead Star as Korea's Emma Stone

"As we combined 'Money Game' and 'Pie Game,' I wondered if the title 'Money Game' was still appropriate. This drama does not fall under the survival genre, and no one is supposed to die. So I thought it would be better not to include 'game' in the title."

In addition to this, he wanted the word "show" to appear in the title to highlight the "fun and entertainment" aspect of the K-drama.

"That's why the word 'show' [and not game] is important. We [creators] try hard to entertain," the director explained.

'The 8 Show' is Different from 'Squid Game' Says Director Han Jae Rim

Among the questions asked to Han Jae Rim was the viewers' reaction to "The 8 Show," and they couldn't help but compare it to another hit Netflix series, "Squid Game."

While most of the blockbuster K-dramas are either romance, rom-coms, or revenge dramas, another genre that is gaining the attention of global viewers is the psychological thriller series.

"The 8 Show" director pointed out the difference between the two series and how the webtoon based K-drama is different from the work of director Hwang Dong Hyuk of "Squid Game."

According to him, "Squid Game" is a survival game where only one will survive the death defying challenge, whereas "The 8 Show" is a "social experiment show."

In addition to this, Director Han Jae Rim also mentioned the numbers that represent the social status of the players and the significance of "logic" in every player's move.

"The organizers [of the games] are also fundamentally different. The organizers of Squid Game are bad people, making it easy for the audience to watch without guilt. But [in The 8 Show], we don't show the organizer, which makes the audience feel like they are the organizer."

Another highlight of "The 8 Show" are the rules that no one should die during the course of the game.

"The 8 Show" is currently airing exclusively on Netflix, with a total of 8 episodes throughout the season run.

Per streaming aggregator service, Flix Patrol, the series ranked in 2nd place as of May 24.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: 'The 8 Show' Director Reveals Reason for Casting Bae Sung Woo Amid Past Controversy 

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Written by Geca Flores