As Netflix’s Squid Game continues to captivate global audiences, a question that has long intrigued viewers is finally answered: what do the geometric symbols—circle, triangle, and square—really mean?

According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, the mastermind behind the phenomenon, these three shapes were among the earliest visuals he conceptualized when crafting the series. At a press event, he explained how the symbols are rooted in his own childhood memories of Korean playground games.

But nostalgia is only one layer of their meaning.

Within the series, the shapes are more than decorative—they denote hierarchy. Guards wear masks with one of the three symbols, each indicating their level of authority. Circles represent the base-level workers, triangles signify armed guards, and squares denote supervisors or commanders.

Hwang emphasized that he deliberately chose these simple forms not just for clarity, but to convey deeper philosophical ideas. He noted that they symbolize the structure of power dynamics in modern capitalist societies, portraying how individuals are boxed into roles with little room for escape.

These symbols also appear subtly throughout the series, from the layout of the final game arena to the embossed designs on the player invitation cards.

Despite Season 3 being announced as the end of Seong Gi-hun’s journey, fans were left buzzing after the finale unveiled a shocking moment. In the final minutes, viewers were introduced to a new recruiter—none other than Cate Blanchett, dressed in a dark suit and playing ddakji in a dimly lit alleyway in Los Angeles.

Her appearance marks a turning point in the series and teases that the story—and its symbolic universe—may continue to evolve.

Hwang’s use of familiar shapes to explore themes of survival, power, and societal decay has helped Squid Game become one of the most visually and thematically compelling shows of the decade.