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"Oh, look. It's Squid Game."
Those were the words uttered by people who just happened to be at Sydney Harbour on Thursday as 300 Squid Game guards dressed in pink marched along the shore.
The guards were escorting Young-hee — the Red Light, Green Light doll from the Netflix series and global sensation Squid Game — to Luna Park Sydney.
While for some it was a chance encounter, others were there to sample Squid Game: The Experience before it opens to crowds Saturday.
Young-hee's new home is at Luna Park Sydney over summer. (Supplied: Netflix)
Fans of the series can compete against each other, either in groups or solo, for a grand prize.
The prize won't be billions of won. Nor will the consequences be as deadly as they were in the TV show, but participants will get to play a series of games including Red Light Green Light, Ddakji, Marbles, and Memory Steps.
The setting is the heritage-listed Luna Park at Milsons Point on Sydney Harbour, with the art-deco amusement park set to be Squid Game HQ over summer.
Players get to test their luck at a series of games at Luna Park as part of Squid Game: The Experience. (Supplied: Netflix)
There have already been Squid Game events held at select locations around the world including London and Edinburgh, Paris, the World Premiere in Seoul, and here at home in Melbourne.
What is Squid Game?
When the South Korean drama Squid Game premiered in 2021, it fast became Netflix's most popular title.
The first season followed 456 people who were in debt and desperate for cash, playing children's games for a massive cash prize.
Lose, however, and you're eliminated. Literally.
The series was watched by more than 142 million households and amassed 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first four weeks.
The scene at Sydney Harbour Thursday caught some by surprise. (Supplied: Netflix)
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who created the series, made history when he became the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series at the Emmys.
It was nominated for 14 Emmys and won six, becoming the first non-English-speaking series to receive nominations and win at the awards show.
Season 2 has already been nominated for Best Drama at the upcoming Golden Globes despite not airing yet.
What can we expect from Squid Game season 2?
As the plot goes, three years after winning Squid Game, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) returns as Player 456, starting another life-or-death game, with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won ($50 million dollars).
Who is in the Squid Game 2 cast?
Hwang Dong-hyuk is once again at the helm of the series as director, writer, and producer. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from season one.
Joining them are a new cast of characters played by Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an.