Understanding the hidden meaning of ‘squid game’ for foreign residents.

While the Netflix series 'Squid Game' made by Korea is gaining worldwide popularity, the Washington Post (WP), a leading American newspaper, published an article explaining the hidden meaning of the squid game on October 22nd.

The article, titled “Interpretation of the Hidden Language and Signals of the Squid Game for Non-Koreans,” was written by Michelle Yehee-ri, a Korean-American journalist who is the head of the Washington Post Tokyo branch.

She said, "If Korean is not your native language or you have watched the dubbed version, you may miss some important points that can enrich your viewing experience. I want to share some things that foreigners may have missed."

The pride of Ssangmun-dong after graduating from Seoul National University

Sung Ki-hoon, the main character of Squid Game, exalts his friend Jo Sang-woo, who graduated from Seoul National University's business department and is the 'pride of Ssangmun-dong'.

Ssangmun-dong is a neighborhood where many ordinary people live in Gangbuk, Seoul. It is a place far away from ‘Gangnam’, which singer Psy sang.

Seoul National University is where the most talented students in Korea go. It is evaluated that only the fact that he has passed Seoul National University has reached his  success in life. When someone I know says they are from Seoul National University, everyone looks at them again.

Therefore, 'Seoul National University graduates from Ssangmun-dong' means that they have obtained the highest education in Korea in the neighborhood of the commoners and have laid the foundation for the advancement of the common people.

The difference between 'boss' and 'brother'

The Washington Post also mentioned that Ali, a foreign worker, called Jo Sang-woo “boss” and then “brother”.

Ali, an immigrant from abroad, calls everyone he meets the boss, explaining that foreign workers have a relatively low status in Korea.

Ali later calls Sang-woo 'brother', but in Korea, the name and attitude to call the other person change according to their age. 'Brother' is a friendly term for men who are older than him, but at the same time, the word 'brother' implies that one must follow his brother to some extent.

In the game, there is a scene in which a female character named Han Mi-nyeo calls herself 'I'm a kkagdugi', which means a person who can't fit in either side. However, rather than meaning that it is excluded, it has a strong meaning of just letting it in. It doesn't mean it's important, but it just lets you participate. That's why there are many people who prefer to be kkakdugi.

Reporter Michel Yehee-Li said, "People who grew up in Korea can easily understand the meaning of some dramas, but others may not be clear. Understanding these nuances can help you see dramas and characters from a new perspective,” she said.

Reporter Song Haseong