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Netflix to edit 'Squid Game' phone number after woman inundated with calls

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Sangmi Cha, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Netflix series " game="" squid="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/10/06/20211006_squidgame.jpg"/><figcaption>The Netflix series &quot;Squid Game&quot; is played on a mobile phone in this picture illustration. <em>Kim Hong-Ji, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>SEOUL — A South Korean woman who was deluged with thousands of prank calls and text messages after her phone number was highlighted as a key plot point in Netflix&#x27;s hit show &quot;Squid Game&quot; may soon get some relief.</p><p>Netflix and local production company Siren Pictures said on Wednesday they would edit scenes to remove the phone number, which appears on a mysterious invitation card given to potential players of a series of deadly children&#x27;s games.</p><p>The 9-part thriller depicting cash-strapped contestants playing to the death in a bid to win 45.6 billion won ($38.31 million) became an international hit when it premiered on the streaming service last month.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/24/21/review-squid-game-ups-the-violence-in-korean-drama">Netflix review: &#x27;Squid Game&#x27; ups the violence in Korean drama</a></li></ul><p>Local broadcaster SBS aired an interview last month with the owner of the phone number, who they identified as Kim Gil-young, a woman who runs a business in the southeastern county of Seongju. The woman showed some of the messages she had received, including requests for invitations to join the Squid Game and go &quot;from rags to riches.&quot;</p><p>Reuters&#x27; calls to the phone number were not answered on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;Together with the production company, we are working to resolve this matter, including editing scenes with phone numbers where necessary,&quot; Netflix said on Wednesday, asking fans to refrain from prank calls or messages.</p><p>The woman told SBS last month that it was impossible for her to change her number due to client contacts and she had declined an offer of 1 million won ($840) in compensation. SBS has reported that she has since been offered compensation of up to 5 million won.</p><p>Netflix and Siren Pictures declined to comment on any compensation offers on Wednesday.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/30/21/why-bleak-squid-game-is-a-streaming-phenomenon">Why the bleak world of &#x27;Squid Game&#x27; is a streaming phenomenon</a></li></ul><p>Presidential candidate Huh Kyung-young made headlines last week when he offered 100 million won ($84,023) on Facebook to buy the leaked number on the show.</p><p>Telephone numbers are considered limited national resources and sales or purchase of such is illegal under the country&#x27;s telecommunications business law.</p><p>The culture ministry&#x27;s Korean Film Council offers moviemakers screen numbers that are not used in real life, but TV shows streamed on over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix do not have access to that service.</p><p>Netflix and Siren had said earlier they deliberately only showed the final 8 digits of the mobile phone number, and were unaware that, when dialed, the prefix would automatically be added to complete the number. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/29/21/carlo-aquino-gaganap-sana-na-ali-sa-squid-game">Carlo Aquino, inaming siya sana ang gaganap na Ali sa ‘Squid Game</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1780868	" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

A South Korean woman was deluged with prank calls and text messages after her phone number was highlighted as a key plot point in 'Squid Game'.

Netflix to edit 'Squid Game' phone number after woman inundated with calls

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Netflix to edit 'Squid Game' phone number after woman inundated with calls

Sangmi Cha,

Reuters

Published October 06, 2021 03:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Netflix

Squid Game

South Korea

phone number

prank calls

prank texts

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