"A Hellish Horror Show Captivating the World"... Foreign Media Also Alert to the 'Ojingeo Game' Craze

[Photo by The Guardian, UK]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Foreign media are also paying close attention to the global sensation of Netflix's Korean drama "Ojingeo Game" (Squid Game).

On the 28th (local time), the British daily The Guardian analyzed the reasons behind the popularity of Squid Game in an article titled "Squid Game, a hellish horror show that has captivated the world."

Squid Game is a nine-episode Netflix drama depicting a survival game where participants risk their lives to win a prize of 45.6 billion won.

It is currently ranked number one worldwide on the global online video service (OTT) Netflix (according to FlixPatrol).

The Guardian stated, "This drama is the first Korean program to top the Netflix US charts and is currently number one in the UK as well," adding, "For a generation obsessed with dystopian (dark future) genre works featuring murder such as 'The Hunger Games' or 'Battle Royale,' this success is not surprising."

Japanese novelist Takami Koushun's Battle Royale gained popularity by adopting a format where participants must kill others to survive. The dystopian science fiction (SF) series The Hunger Games also centers on survival death games within a large arena.

However, The Guardian highlighted the drama's unique setting against the backdrop of Korea's socially unequal wealth distribution.

In particular, The Guardian mentioned last year's Academy Award-winning film "Parasite," pointing out that both works feature two completely separate social classes.

Still cut from 'Ojingeo Game' [Photo by Netflix]

The Guardian questioned, "Even if the murder game in the work is horrific, how much worse could it be than the endless debt-ridden situations of those involved?" and commented, "Episodes dealing with the characters' pasts show that anyone can end up in debt after a streak of misfortune."

It also cited the selected characters and the narrative device of a "game show" as intrinsic attractions of the work.

The process by which characters with different motives for the prize form relationships amid the brutal game is said to evoke warmth.

Furthermore, the observation of the game participants allows viewers to empathize and immerse themselves in their positions, the analysis noted.

Moreover, it was evaluated that political dynamics arise among participants each time the game takes place, which resonates with the audience.

As a representative example, it cited situations just before the game starts, such as when teams are chosen and some are reluctantly picked last despite survival odds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.