'Cute and murderous': How Squid Game's iconic killer doll came to life

'Cute and murderous': How Squid Game's iconic killer doll came to life
Players take part in the Red Light, Green Light game at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium ahead of the release of the Netflix series Squid Game: Season 2 on Dec 26 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Dec 22, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters file

SEOUL — While the second season of Squid Game has new plot twists, one element of the Netflix mega-hit series where contestants down on their luck risk their lives to play children's games for the chance of winning cash prizes, has remained constant. 

That is Young-hee, an innocent-looking robotic doll who in fact has a deadly role in the South Korean-made television series to find contestants to gun down playing the game Red Light, Green Light if she spots them moving.

Young-hee, who is clad in a simple orange dress and a hair clip, has become a viral meme on social media and the centrepiece of the streaming giant's promotional campaign.

Chae Kyoung-sun, the production designer for Squid Game, said the doll's appearance had been partly inspired by her own daughter.

Read Also
Squid Game 2 stars try their hands at 'Malaysia-Singapore' games 5 stones and goli panjang
entertainment
Squid Game 2 stars try their hands at 'Malaysia-Singapore' games 5 stones and goli panjang

"My daughter had a bowl cut for a long time which was very cute so I decided to draw a very short bang," Chae told Reuters.

"Her eyes are a little crazy. She's a killing machine and the movement of her eyes had to be easy to see, so we made her eyes quite big."

The initial inspiration for Young-hee came from a girl of the same name on the cover of old primary school textbooks in South Korea, though the killer doll was initially conceived as genderless, Chae said. The first season of Squid Game became the most-watched show on the streaming platform and expectations were high for the second season to replicate the success.

The new season of the dystopian thriller, released on Dec 26, also broke a record as the most-watched show in its premiere week on the streaming platform, with 68 million views, according to Netflix. The streaming giant said on Tuesday it gained a record 18.9 million subscribers in its fourth quarter thanks in part to the second season of Squid Game.

In 2023, Netflix announced a US$2.5 billion (S$3.4 billion) investment in South Korea to produce Korean TV series, movies and unscripted shows.

Asked about the success of the show and this particular character, Chae put it down to their unorthodox nature.

"How does this cute kid suddenly turn into a killing machine? — I think the creation of the Squid Game world by adopting unpredictable concepts and methods resonated with young people looking for fresh things," she said.

At the end of the second season, viewers also get a glimpse of Chul-su, a male doll set to appear in the next season alongside Young-hee that was originally envisaged for the first series.

"When they said there will be a second season and that Chul-su would appear, I brought back the drawings I had of Chul-su for the first season," Chae said.

"Think of it as a friend, a partner," she said.

The third and final season of Squid Game is set to be released later this year.

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    MOM probes alleged fake injury claim by Sumo Salad employee amid police probe into owner’s death
    Singapore-registered cars must have COE of over 6 months to apply for VEP, says Malaysian transport minister
    Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang revealed to have been executed for murder of 16-year-old girlfriend
    Youth sent to hospital after allegedly vaping and behaving erratically on overhead bridge in Bishan
    Long John Silver's slowly shifts to 24/7 operations, here are 4 outlets now open round the clock
    Smiths Authentic British Fish & Chips to stay open for another 6 months after rental reduction
    Four Star rolls out SG60 celebration with $60 bedframe and up to $600 off sofas and furniture
    Kite string rips through clothes and bag strap, nearly strangles motorcyclist on KL highway
    Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
    Unhealthy air quality in Malaysia, NEA warns of potential transboundary haze
    'If you don't buy, others will': Woman lists NDP tickets for $25 each
    HSA seizes 54 vape pods during raid of 16-year-old boy's home, etomidate found in some

Singapore

Singapore
    • NParks tells Holland Drive auto pet wash operator to cease use of machine
    • Woman loses husband in JB crash 3 months after miscarriage
    • Police test ride-hailing robot to patrol Changi Airport T4
    • Cement truck overturns in Chinatown, driver taken to hospital
    • 'Please help us seek the truth': Sister pleads for eyewitnesses after brother dies in accident on CTE
    • 'I have seen his hands tremble, his eyes go blank': Son's Kpod addiction leaves parents in $30k debt
    • 'Not surprising': Experts on 4-room HDB unit in Clementi sold for $1.28m
    • Over 280 applications, 0 offers: Fresh grad's year-long job hunt highlights new jobseeker woes
    • Malaysian Wai Kei Fung couriered the bail amount to Singapore Wilson Ang, who acted as a bailer for money.
    • 'My world came crashing down': Woman shares grief after losing boyfriend to substance abuse, mental health struggles

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Coldplay might have exposed tech CEO's alleged affair during concert
    • 'I hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money': Ken Chu scolded for selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, explains his actions
    • 'There's no one whose kin doesn't die': Jet Li reveals his thoughts on death, why he doesn't attend funerals, daughter being suicidal
    • Video-taking ban at J-rock band My First Story's debut Singapore show results in superb concert experience
    • Kevin Feige teases Tom Holland will become 'proper Spider-Man' in next movie instalment
    • Mariah Carey announces new album Here For It All
    • Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54
    • Friends of Soundgarden frontman create tribute supergroup to release covers of his songs for charity

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Wedding ang bao rates in Singapore (July 2025): How much should you give?
    • From Paris to Raffles Place: Singaporean-founded deli Nonette opens pop-up, here's what you should try
    • Digital nomad in JB: Can Singaporeans really work from across the Causeway?
    • Books Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City opens, features reading room and outlet-exclusive items
    • Health hazard or harmless hue: Should you be worried about the food dye in your kaya and Thai tea?
    • Sylvanian Families at centre of legal battle with TikTok creator
    • The trick to seeing through a condo showflat (most buyers never do this)
    • Top 28 free things to do in Singapore (July 2025): Singapore Biryani Festival 2.0, SingaPAW weekend, Poetry Festival, and more
    • Where to find freehold semi-D landed homes from $4.4m: Touring Gilstead Road
    • Celebrate SG60: National Day promotions across Singapore

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers
    • 'Report 1 shop, another 10 appear': Hoyo Fest artists on copyright struggles
    • NTU penalises 3 students over use of AI tools; they dispute university's findings
    • Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool

Money

Money
    • Up 4.3%: Singapore's economy grew in Q2 despite US tariff fears
    • US Senate passes aid, public broadcasting cuts in victory for Trump
    • Beneath China's resilient economy, a life of pay cuts and side hustles
    • France's PM wants to scrap 2 public holidays to help fix government finances
    • Retiring OCBC chief Helen Wong drives synergies among markets, business units, bank insiders say
    • Trump sets 19% tariff on Indonesia goods in latest deal, EU readies retaliation
    • US planes, cars and drinks on EU list for potential tariffs
    • China suffers $9.7b in losses from natural disasters in H1 2025
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (July 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (July 2025): 50% cashback on public transit with Amex, win Business Class flights with HSBC and more

Latest

Latest
  • Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk's SpaceX
  • What you need to know about Trump, Epstein and the MAGA controversy
  • Daily roundup: Kite string rips through clothes and bag strap, nearly strangles motorcyclist on KL highway — and other top stories today
  • 2 dead, 10 missing after colossal rain in China's Shandong
  • Taiwan, EU both face threats of 'external infiltration', president tells European lawmakers
  • China rallies for opposition as Taiwan gears up for mass parliamentary recall
  • Landmine dispute escalates tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
  • Pakistan police say tribal chief among 14 arrested over 'honour killing'
  • Heavy rains expected as Tropical Storm Wipha approaches Vietnam's northern coast

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • School van in JB overturns after hitting uncovered manhole, 16 students injured
  • Thai woman allegedly extorts $15m from senior Buddhist monks over 3 years, gambles away almost everything
  • I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons
  • China mum jailed for selling 2 sons for over $14k to tip livestreamers, buy clothes
  • Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN
  • Malaysian man strikes $4m lottery after betting on his, girlfriend's IC numbers for 3 years
  • Singaporean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times
  • JB mum forgets baby in car during shopping trip; cops, locksmith rescue infant
  • Lurid tale of China's cross-dressing 'red uncle' goes viral online
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.