Background and Significance of “Squid Game”
On Saturday, thousands of fans of the South Korean Netflix series “Squid Game” gathered in Seoul to celebrate the release of its third and final season, which premiered on Friday. The dystopian series, first aired in 2021, has become the most-watched show on Netflix. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, it explores a violent society riddled with inequalities.
Fan Celebrations and Symbolism
The fans, dressed in uniforms reminiscent of the mysterious agents from the series, congregated near the famous Gyeongbokgung Palace. They carried large ddakji game boards, a traditional Korean card game central to the story, and flags bearing the enigmatic symbols of a circle, triangle, and square.
The pink guards of Squid Game.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series’ director, expressed his commitment to the show during a recent press conference. He mentioned feeling both sadness and relief as he watched the series come to an end.
“Although it pains me to see it end, there’s a certain sense of relief,” he commented.
Cultural Impact and Local Support
The Seoul City Hall, close to the municipality, was illuminated with scenes and characters from the series, including Young-hee, the giant motion-detecting doll featured in one of the childhood games in “Squid Game.”
“This project has become a sort of cultural phenomenon, tracing one of the boldest lines in Korean creative history,” superstar Lee Byung-hun told fans. He plays the masked leader overseeing the competition.
South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk and the cast at a fan event for Netflix’s Squid Game Season 3
The event was partly organized by the Seoul City Government, eager to capitalize on the global popularity of this cultural soft power example from South Korea to boost tourism.
“I don’t want to leave, ever,” said influencer Snitchery, who traveled from Los Angeles.
Park Sang-gyu, a fan, stayed awake all night on Friday to watch the final season. He emphasized that “Squid Game” is primarily “a story about people,” not just games, as it reflects many aspects of real life.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is “Squid Game”? It’s a South Korean dystopian series on Netflix that explores a violent society riddled with inequalities.
- When did the final season premiere? The third and final season premiered on Friday.
- Where did fans gather to celebrate? Fans congregated near the famous Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
- What did fans carry during the celebration? Fans carried large ddakji game boards and flags with enigmatic symbols from the series.
- What is the cultural significance of “Squid Game”? The series has become a cultural phenomenon, tracing one of the boldest lines in Korean creative history.
- Why did the Seoul City Government organize this event? The city aimed to capitalize on the global popularity of “Squid Game” to boost tourism.
