"Squid Game"'s Hidden Revolution

K-pop, Gangnam Style, and "Squid Game" have changed how the world perceives Korean culture. But most overlook the hidden revolution that "Squid Game" caused. Join us to understand it today!

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South Korea has consecutively produced entertainment hits that have changed global pop culture. The first such hit was Gangnam Style in 2012, with the song becoming an instant meme and the first truly viral music video. Its historical virality came courtesy of a billion views in less than 6 months, a jackpot that "Squid Game" smashed out of the water.

The World's Favorite TV Show

"Squid Game" aired on Netflix in September 2021, with the TV show becoming an instant hit. It accumulated a mind-boggling 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days of its premiere. These views came from more than 142 million households located in 94 countries. It is, even to this day, Netflix's most-watched series. But what was its cultural influence?

Cultural Influence

Netflix won big when it bet on "Squid Game", with few predicting that the gamble would pay off. The series was, after all, subtitled and it is no secret that international audiences shy away from non-English content. Moreover, Korean TV shows did not have worldwide recognition and reputation. However, there were two major factors that changed all that forever.

• Social Media - "Squid Game" inspired countless memes that spread like wildfire. Instagram was being flooded with relatable memes, TikTok was being spammed with copycat challenges, and YouTube was flooded with video essays dissecting "Squid Game". The series was a winning race horse and nothing could stop it. But this was just the start.
• Merchandise - The series premiered in September, a month and a half before Halloween to be exact. It was still on the front page of social media and news sites by the time Halloween rolled around. This resulted in costumes and events mimicking "Squid Game" to the point of being annoying. However, this was just the start of a global conversation.

Socio-Economic Impact

Some viewers saw "Squid Game" as a glorification of gambling, as the show's premise was very close to that of a casino. Moreover, some saw the sad reality of economic disparity, with certain competitors having stories tied to crippling debt. While it was obviously a fake scenario, the issues that it tackled were very real and human. One could even say that it considered the stark realities of capitalism and the human condition, which resonated with audiences of all social classes. But its far-reaching effects did not end there.

A Game Show Revolution

Asian TV shows are renowned the world over for their innovative entertainment. The undisputed kings of these are Japanese and Korean game shows, which are watched with amazement by Western audiences. There are even entire YouTube channels dedicated to dissecting and comparing these shows. However, "Squid Game" took the concepts further than any game operator would ever think of. Its approach to game shows changed not only the dynamic of conventional TV shows but also of gambling shows.

"Squid Game" in Unexpected Places

Online casinos are always trying to glue themselves to popular mainstream media, with various slots and casino games being themed around Hollywood movies and superhero characters. A company called Light & Wonder decided to do the same with Squid Game, turning it into a mix between a slot machine and a video game. But that was just the start.

It is no secret that Koreans absolutely adore video games. While finding the time to play them is difficult, finding Korean professional video game players is a breeze. They are, after all, some of the best players of League of Legends, Dota 2, StarCraft, and other competitive games. Their popularity has even contributed to a rise in Esports betting, which is betting on video games. The shows that revolve around video game competitions often have the same production quality as TV shows, especially when enormous sums are involved.

Live casino game hosts thus figured out that they could cash in on "Squid Game" by dressing up their hosts in "Squid Game" costumes and mimicking various games. These game shows received mixed responses, with some viewers being very excited by the concept, while others found the show's popularity annoying. The latter were not annoyed for long, as the hype dialed down and new trends soon took over.

The Long-term Impact of "Squid Game"

"Squid Game" forever changed the worldwide perception of Korean media. The attention that has since been given to Korean movies and TV shows is second to none. What is more, there are remnants of the show scattered throughout the internet, even on gambling sites. The latter just goes to show that you never can tell where your favorite media will end up.

The fact that Korea is the home of various worldwide cultural phenomena can no longer be disputed. It is impossible to predict what the next big Korean hit will be, but we bet that it will change the world in its own way.