‘Squid’ Game: The Korean Kids Game That Inspired the Hit Series

“Squid,” the game, revolves around intense rivalry and power struggles, intending to destroy each other and finish first. That explains why director Hwang Dong-hyuk named his series Squid Game (2021), which became Netflix’s mega-smash K-content, a resounding global hit, and is currently counting down the days until its second season premieres on December 26.

Squid (Ojingŏ in Korean) is a classic Korean kids’ game known differently across different regions in Korea. The name “Squid” stems from the peculiar shape of the court, featuring multiple portions representing distinct zones, marked out on the ground to resemble a squid. 

Players are split into two teams: those attacking, who have to force their way through the defenses, and those on the other side, who have to protect their area of control. The game unfolds in a setting of adrenaline and strategy as players try to get past the defenders. The objective is to either resist the attackers from reaching the endpoint or breach the barriers of defense to win.

The game is quite action-packed, with rivals dragging, shoving, and grasping each other. The attackers must move on one leg until they reach a point, leaping over a tiny space in the court between two defined zones. In some versions of the game, players can use both legs within the allowed areas. A “gate” section allows defenders to leave the “squid” area on one leg until they return.

Among various iterations of the game, Squid Ttaeng in Busan is rather famous and has been reported to have gained popularity due to an abundance of squid in the waters surrounding Gadeokdo, Busan’s largest island, and because squid is a favorite local treat there.

Another fun variation is the Squid Unification game from the Haenam region. Rooted in Korean History, it’s believed to have evolved from the Three Kingdoms of Korea—Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—which fought for dominance of the Korean Peninsula. According to an article from the Digital Haenam Cultural Festival, the attacking side must reach the “unification area” by crossing the line of defense.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Squid game was reportedly more popular in Korea. From then on, its fame gradually declined. In his interviews for the series, director Hwang mentioned that he enjoyed the game during his childhood, appreciating its frenetic and physically demanding nature. He also stated that the activity embodies the fiercely competitive world we live in.

Hwang’s Squid Game reveals disparities in society, mounting debt, hardships, and who we are in the face of crisis. Through a set of warped games for children, it pits needy players against each other in a bid for life and money. Losing each game means you die, but the winnings multiply. Player Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) finally wins but resolves to prevent the game from claiming more lives in Squid Game 2.

Squid Game is an unsettling, perilous competitive space where players are thrust into life-threatening challenges, each a bloodbath at each step. The intense portrayal serves as a powerful reflection of the bigger societal woes faced by countless individuals, shedding light on the deep-seated socioeconomic issues of Korean society. The stakes are too high in Squid Game, and so are the pressures the players face, echoing the anxieties of people navigating an increasingly unstable environment.