What Do South Koreans Think of the Global Success of the K-Drama?

Korean tradition and content material have turn into a worldwide phenomenon over the previous couple of years. With Ok-pop teams like BTS and BLACKPINK taking up the music charts, Korean dramas have turn into a worldwide sensation. Squid Sport grew to become the primary Ok-drama on Netflix in 90 international locations. However for South Koreans, Squid Sport depicted social and financial points whereas additionally being shocked by its immense success.

Asian Boss took the streets of South Korea to ask residents their ideas on the Ok-drama and its interpretation of the points that plague the nation. South Koreans admit foreigners may misunderstand sure points of the drama however depict a sure actuality.

South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae and Director Hwang Dong-Hyuk for ‘Squid Game’ | through Netflix

‘Squid Game’ has plot parts that appealed to a grander viewers

Youtube channel, Asian Boss, requested South Koreans in the event that they preferred the Ok-drama and what hooked world followers. One citizen explains Squid Sport has cultural points particular to Korea that’s overseas but intriguing to different international locations. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk beforehand talked about he needed the Ok-drama to be as Korean as attainable. The childhood video games utilized in the drama cater to ones many Korean residents performed as youngsters.

One other citizen took Squid Sport’s fame one other approach. “I actually thought Squid Game was inspired by similar shows overseas,” stated the lady. The drama had a degree of gore and brutality not usually seen in Ok-dramas. The citizen attributes the drama’s brutality to be extra interesting to foreigners. Mixed with Korean childhood video games and Korean plot twists, it made for a refreshing new drama.

Asian Boss requested residents if Squid Sport’s recognition got here as a shock and plenty of answered “yes.” Based on the Toronto Star, Nancy Wang Yuen, American sociologist and writer of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism, was additionally stunned.

“Korean cinema, Korean drama, Korean pop, all of that has been huge in Asia, and the quality and the popularity has existed for a long time. For people to only think about ‘Oh my gosh BTS,’ or only think about Squid Game and Parasite, (and) that somehow these are new — it’s right that they should be celebrated, because they are high quality, but to kind of express awe and surprise feels like it’s erasing the fact that probably the larger global population have already been fans of and enjoyed and consumed these cultural (artistic) expressions,” stated Wang Yeun.

South Koreans consider ‘Squid Game’ portrayed the international locations points nicely

The largest query individuals might need is whether or not or not the societal points in Squid Sport are real looking. For South Koreans, Squid Sport did spotlight the international locations societal and financial points. One citizen explains the scene the place the gamers wait in the streets to reenter the recreation to be the most relatable. She says it depicted the darkish facet of Korean society. The characters would quite play the recreation than face their actuality.

“I just think income inequality is a big problem in Korean society. There are so many people who are disenfranchised,” stated the lady. One other citizen explains that many of the Ok-drama’s characters’ fraud and funding points have been acquainted to the actual world. He has many buddies who’ve invested in shares with the thought of making life-changing cash. Extra so than not, individuals fall sufferer to fraud.

He continues to elucidate Squid Sport had many parallels. “It all starts because you get approached by someone who says you can make easy money,” stated the citizen. One other explains the wealth hole in Korea is a major problem. “I think the drama is able to satirize the harsh reality we are facing,” stated the lady.

Does the Ok-drama depict Korea in a nasty gentle?

Asian Boss requested residents if the Ok-drama offers foreigners a nasty interpretation of the nation. One citizen defined that Squid Sport shows points of Korea precisely and critically but additionally to the excessive at instances. The nation just isn’t as dramatic as the Ok-drama can painting, and it’s finest to see Squid Sport as leisure and never take it too severely.

Squid Sport has turn into the newest South Korean marvel adopted by new dramas like My Title on Netflix. “There are so many Korean dramas and movies being released these days. So even if you find some of them unpleasant and disturbing, try to see it as a form of creative expression about certain aspects of Korean society, like you’d do with Hollywood,” stated one citizen.

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