All Of Us Are Dead: The real story behind the hit zombie series

All Of Us Are Dead is a South Korean zombie horror series that premiered on January 28, 2022 and became one of Netflix's biggest hits. What few people know is that this story is inspired by real events.

The series is based on the Sewol ferry tragedy, which took place on April 16, 2014, where 304 people lost their lives, including approximately 250 high school students in South Korea.

This event generated a great indignation in the country, as the crew personnel, including the captain, ordered the passengers to stay in their cabins and abandoned the ship, leaving them with no options to survive.

According to the prevailing culture in South Korea, the young people did not dare to defy the instructions of their superiors and waited on the ferry while it sank. In contrast, in the fictional narrative, it is the teachers who do not provide help to the students, who in turn take the initiative to protect themselves.

Numerous significant scenes in the series have been recognized by the audience as a source of inspiration related to certain crucial moments of the 2014 tragedy. For example, in one sequence of the program, the high school staff is observed being evacuated in a helicopter, while abandoning the students.

One of the peculiarities of the plot is the use of yellow ribbons in the form of a bow, which symbolize a tribute to the victims who lost their lives in that tragic event. In the series, scenes can be seen in which the young people record farewell messages for their families, an event that also occurred during the 2014 accident.

A zombie horror story

All of Us Are Dead is set in the fictional city of Hyosan, where a zombie outbreak occurs at a high school, spreading chaos and panic throughout the city. The series follows a group of high school students as they fight for survival amidst the zombie apocalypse. The students face numerous challenges, including betrayal, loss, and the struggle to maintain humanity in a desperate bid to stay alive.

The story explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and resilience as the characters navigate the treacherous landscape of their overrun school and city. Key characters include Cheong-san, On-jo, and Nam-ra, each with their own struggles and transformations throughout the series. The government's response to the outbreak involves declaring martial law and eventually bombing parts of the city to contain the zombies, leading to tragic consequences for many characters.

Ultimately, a small group of survivors manages to escape the city and find refuge, only to discover that some individuals, like Nam-ra, have developed a unique condition that makes them half-zombie, raising questions about the future of humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. The series concludes with a mix of hope and uncertainty, as the survivors look towards rebuilding their lives under quarantine.

Given how successful the first season’s mix of horror, gore, and action was, season 2 will likely up the ante. Expect more terrifying encounters with zombies, high-adrenaline chases, and perhaps even new types of infected creatures that add layers to the zombie genre. This will likely intensify the survival aspect of the show.

One of the intriguing possibilities for the new season is the potential evolution of the zombies. As the infection spreads, there may be mutated versions of the zombies, introducing new challenges for the survivors. These creatures could be faster, smarter, or have other terrifying abilities, which would raise the stakes.

Fans are eager to see the return of characters like On-jo, Cheong-san, and others who survived the horrors of season 1. New characters will likely join the fight for survival, which can lead to interesting conflicts and dynamics within the group

All of Us Are Dead season 2 promises to ramp up the tension, horror, and drama, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they follow the survivors through even more perilous challenges.