Thousands of South Korean union workers dressed up as characters from the new Netflix fictional series “Squid Game” and took to the streets Wednesday to protest against the government’s labor policy and to demand better employment conditions.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) staged demonstrations all across Seoul and 12 other cities, with estimates of about 80,000 union members joined the demonstrations across the country. Their costumes were inspired by the South Korean series, which touched on the country’s economic hardship and has resonated with many viewers.

"We continue to move forward to a world of equality with the cries of workers who filled the streets and resounded across the country," the group said.

They added that this is “the first step towards overcoming inequality in the world."

KCTU called for the right for all workers to form unions, for the government to take more responsibility for ensuring job security as the country's economy transitions from industry to services, and for the strengthening of public transportation networks, medical care, housing and education, CBS News noted.

“Squid Game” has been a global sensation and is arguably Netflix’s most popular show to date. The series involves 456 people who compete in deadly children’s games to win a jackpot worth millions. Though stories have been modified to fit the show, the economic hardships portrayed throughout the storyline are inspired by real-life financial struggles many Koreans face today.

“The stories and the problems of the characters are extremely personalized but also reflect the problems and realities of Korean society,” Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show’s creator, said in an email to the New York Times.

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