The highly anticipated second season of the hit Netflix series Squid Game took the world by storm when it debuted on December 26, 2024. It has captivating audiences with its intense drama and unique take on traditional South Korean childhood games turned deadly. Squid Game 2 has smashed records, amassing an astounding 68 million views in its first week and ranking #1 in 92 countries. The series’ success is not just a testament to its gripping storyline but also to the brilliant marketing campaign that turned fans into active participants through immersive events and brand collaboration.
The global fascination with Squid Game 2 is not just driven by the thrill of the competition but also the cultural insights the show provides. By showcasing traditional South Korean games, the series offers a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural heritage, making it a global phenomenon that has resonated with audiences worldwide, while also reigniting interest in non-commercial retro gaming. To learn more about the cultural context for Squid Games, the KWPF newsletter team reached out to two experts, Cheon-soo Kim, Executive Director, Korean Cultural Center New York and Yang-Hwan Lee, Director of the Korea Creative Content Agency New York. We thank them for their time and for sharing their insights, which informed this piece.
Historical Background and Generational Differences
Some of the games featured in Squid Game, such as ddakji and gonggi, have been played since as early as the 14th century, but may date back even earlier than that. Meanwhile, other games like marble shooting and dalgona candy challenge emerged mainly in the mid-20th century, particularly after the Korean War in the 1950s. These games were popular among children during a time of economic hardship in Korea, as they were inexpensive and required minimal materials. They were especially familiar to the generations who grew up between the 1960s and 1980s, when South Korea's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita had not yet reached $10,000.
At that time, most children engaged in physical, outdoor play rather than video games or digital entertainment. These analog games, which required body movement and simple tools, are now unfamiliar to younger generations. However, they also offer a glimpse into the daily lives and traditional values of the past. The games depicted in the drama emphasize social interaction and relationships, fostering creativity, strategic thinking, spontaneity, and concentration. In contrast to modern digital games, these traditional analog games encourage the rediscovery of simple joys that have been somewhat neglected in today's digital era.
Traditional Values of Cooperation and Mutual Support
The games in Squid Game are more than just childhood pastimes; they reflect traditional Korean values. Analog games in Korea emphasize cooperation and mutual support—values that can feel overshadowed in our fast-paced, digitalized modern society. For instance, in the drama, the tug-of-war game is not merely about testing physical strength but also about strategy and teamwork. The game demonstrates how the strong and the weak must collaborate to survive, carrying a message of mutual support.
Korean society has long been rooted in family and community-oriented culture, valuing the concept of "togetherness”. Squid Game revisits these traditional values in a contemporary context, illustrating that cooperation can be the key to survival. However, the drama also serves as a warning that such values are at risk of being eroded in today’s competitive world. It dramatically contrasts childhood games—once symbols of innocence and joy—with their brutal transformation into life-or-death struggles, exposing both the duality of human nature and the unforgiving competitive structure of modern society (in the series, participants sometimes form temporary alliances to survive, but they are ultimately forced to compete against one another). The games, once associated with childhood nostalgia, lose their original innocence and become tools for ruthless competition. This transformation underscores how, when stripped of their pure intentions, even the most innocent games can become violent and unfair.
Ultimately, the games in Squid Game serve as a bridge between past and present generations, as well as between traditional and modern values. They also highlight the tension between cooperation and competition, and innocence and cruelty—offering a profound reflection on both Korean society and the global human experience.
Squid Game Reignites Interest in Playing IRL
As the proliferation of online video tutorials on how to play the games from the show demonstrates, Squid Game has prompted fans and non-fans alike to revisit traditional, in-person games. In New York City and Los Angeles, people can buy tickets for the Netflix offering, the “Squid Game Experience,” which bills itself as a “fully immersive experience” where participants can play games as well as enjoy Korean food and drinks. Meanwhile, as far back as 2021 and in places as far-flung as Indonesia, Edmonton, Canada, and Abu Dhabi, hosts as varied as hotels, local citizens, and Korean Cultural Centers have hosted events where attendees can play the games featured in the show. While Squid Game may not have inspired everyone to put down their video game controllers, if it is encouraging at least some people to get out and play in the real world, that’s a good thing.
Now, are YOU ready to play?
Ddakji, also known as ttakji, is a game that gained international recognition after its appearance in the first season of Squid Game. It is often seen as a test of strength and accuracy among children. Players attempt to flip over their opponent’s paper tile (ddakji) by throwing their own tile at it. The game requires skill, strategy, and a bit of luck.
How to play:
- Create square paper tiles by folding paper or cardboard (here’s a YouTube tutorial).
- Players take turns throwing their tile at their opponent’s tile on the ground.
- The goal is to flip the opponent’s tile. If successful, the player keeps the flipped tile.
- The player with the most tiles at the end wins.
Gonggi, similar to jacks, is a game of dexterity played with small stones or plastic pieces. It was featured during Episode 4 of the show’s second season. In Korea, it’s particularly popular among young girls but is enjoyed by children of all genders. Gonggi helps develop hand-eye coordination and has been played in Korea for centuries.
How to play:
- Start with five small stones or gonggi pieces.
- Scatter four pieces on the ground and hold one in your hand.
- Toss the stone in your hand upwards and quickly pick up one stone from the ground before catching the tossed stone.
- Continue until all stones are picked up, increasing the difficulty by picking up more stones in each round.
We hope that you enjoy playing these games in the safety of your own home, without the terrifyingly high stakes faced by the contestants in Squid Game’s (thankfully) fictional world!
