Squid game effect? When a TV series rocks the world

Squid game effects, from economy to tourism

8 min read

Squid Game — A story about South Korea and the country’s creativity in film production

Squid Game is a dystopic and violent TV series, but also an extremely captivating series on Netflix based on something as unusual as a fine old, outdoor children’s play in South Korea. The series is based on South Korea’s dramatic history and major economic divides between rich and poor.
North Korea has already used Squid Game politically and attacked the Squid Game series, another opportunity to criticize South Korea.
As a TV series, the first season came in September 2021 and may well be the most seen Netflix series ever. Season 2 is in production already.

What does Squid Game potentially mean for South Korea?

It is a perhaps much-needed renewed awareness for this beautiful country not long ago host to the Winter Olympics. However, there are numerous Korea films, one with 6 Oscars even: At the 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite won all four awards (out of six nominations), becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.

There is also the world-famous boy band BTS. By far the most well-known pop phenomenon from South Korea.

BTS is the first K-pop group to perform at the American Music Awards and win a Billboard Music Award, and the first South Korean act to reach 10 (ten) million followers on Twitter, BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys and Beyond the Scene, has put the world under the K-pop spell!

Snowy mountains in South Korea

I once played golf with a diplomat from South Korea in Denmark in November. I found it very cold, and asked him if he was ok? Assuming his country is like Thailand or the Philippines. He replied dryly: it is colder in my country, where I come from during winter than here in Denmark. So I stood politely corrected in 3 degrees Celsius + plenty of wind on hole 3 of the golf course, where only 5 people played.
That was a detour to say, that sometimes it takes groundbreaking, art very often or in this case a series on Netflix, that brings a country to the next level in international recognition. It means in this case massive interest:

Who is the director of Squid Game?

Before Hwang Dong-Hyuk was the “Squid Game director,” i.e. the man behind what’s set to become Netflix’s biggest TV series this year, he was a student at a university that boasts the who’s who in filmmaking today: the University of Southern California (USC).

USC’s famous graduates include the creator of “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises George Lucas, one-eyed assassin Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films Daryl Hannah, director of films “A Beautiful Mind” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Ron Howard, and director of the film “Grease” Randal Kleiser.

Hwang joined this illustrious group when he enrolled in an MFA in Film Production at USC’s School of the Cinematic Arts. By then, the Seoul native already held a BA in Communications from Seoul National University — the most prestigious uni in the country — and had credits for writing and directing short films such as “Our Sad Life” and “A Puff of Smoke.”

The renewed interest in South Korea and Squid Game´s influence

People now raise many more questions of genuine interest. Who are the excellent actors? Will SQUID mean that the South Korean film industry will blossom? What is the value of 1 USD? Here is the answer as of mid-October 2021: = 1185.69351 KRW South Korean Won.
So when the participants can win billions in KRW, knowing the value puts things in perspective. How is the relationship to North Korea as we speak under the Biden presidency? How is democracy doing? The investment climate, is it better than Japan?
Samsung is from South Korea right, how big a chunk of the national economy do they bring to the table?

You have heard of or tasted Kimchi?

Is the food very different? Yes some of it is, like for real: Kimchi is one of the most popular Korean traditional food. It is prepared by fermenting the Baechu cabbage together with other vegetables and lactic acid bacteria that should be good for you, and not least of all, many more profound and long-lasting effects from a “simple “Squid Game series from a much longer list:
Tourism! We will start going there not to join a more than hazardous Squid Game, but to enjoy a most beautiful country.

What is Squid Game about?

Squid Game (Korean: 오징어 게임; RR: Ojing-eo Geim) is a South Korean television series, a highly original survival drama on Netflix.
The series revolves around a competition in which 456 South Korean players, from different walks of life, but each deep in debt, are lured with money to play a series of children’s games with death as the outcome, if they lose, for the chance to win a billion prize.

squid game director

Who is this rising star film director?

The director and creative soul Hwang had imagined the idea for the film’s incredible plot based on his own economic struggles early in life as well as the class differences in South Korea. Although he had originally written it in 2009, he could not find a production company to fund the idea until Netflix became interested around 2019 as part of their efforts to expand their foreign programming offerings. Hwang wrote and directed all nine episodes himself.
Squid Game received critical acclaim and attracted international attention. Within a week of its release, it became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows in several regional markets; within the first 17 days after release, it attracted more than 111 million viewers, surpassing Bridgerton as the network’s most-watched series to date.

USC’s famous graduates include the creator of “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises George Lucas, one-eyed assassin Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films Daryl Hannah, director of films “A Beautiful Mind” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Ron Howard and director of the film “Grease” Randal Kleiser.

Do you see South Korea in the movie?

Yes, absolutely. Mostly the modern country but also poor alleys and food markets and much more, but not the great beauty of the country.

Seoul

Has Traveltalk written about South Korea?

Yes and all over Asia, almost all countries in Asia. Here are a few links to more travel knowledge about South Korea.

Going back to the beginning of this little essay on South Korea: To the surprise of many, South Korea also has high mountains and cold winters and the Winter Olympics have been held in South Korea.