Director Hwang Dong-hyeok, who created the global hit Netflix series ‘Squid Game’, received an award of merit at the Gotham Awards, an American TV series awards ceremony.

Director Hwang said in English, “I feel like the miracle continues,” while receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ‘The Gotham 2025 TV Awards’ (Gotham Awards)held in New York, USA on the 3rd(Korean time).

The Merit Award is given to a creator who has broadened the horizons of TV and has had an indelible impact.The director has swept awards at various overseas award ceremonies for ‘Squid Game’, but this is his first time receiving an Merit Award.

Director Hwang said, “The Gotham Awards were the first awards ceremony I attended in New York in 2021.That night, ‘Squid Game’ won the Best Series Award, which was amazing.I remember saying at the time, ‘Everything felt like a miracle.’ It was also a miracle that a script that everyone had rejected became a series after 12 years.And it’s been four years since I stood here again and held this glorious trophy.I still believe that miracle continues.”

He continued, “Many people have been with me on this miraculous journey,” and joked, “Thank you to everyone who turned down ‘Squid Game’ in 2009.If anyone had accepted, ‘Squid Game’ would not exist today.”

He then expressed his gratitude to those who worked with him on ‘Squid Game’, especially to the lead actor, Lee Jung-jae.

Director Hwang said, “Thank you, Sung Ki-hoon, for being number 456,” and made everyone laugh by saying, “You may not have been successful in saving other players in ‘Squid Game,’ but you saved our show.”

On this day, Lee Jung-jae attended the awards ceremony and presented the award of merit.

Lee Jung-jae said, “It is a great honor to be able to stand at the GOSH Awards to celebrate a storyteller with the imagination who changed the landscape of global TV.Director Hwang, thank you for showing the world the power of bold storytelling.”



Reporter Lee Jeong- annjoy@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.