K-Dramas at ND: The Rise of Squid Game
If you watch Netflix, you may have seen a few foreign dramas dotting the “Popular on Netflix” section or your suggestions page. These dramas, especially K-dramas, have skyrocketed in popularity as East Asian media has made its way to the West. K-dramas typically revolve around romance, whether it’s realistic fiction, fantasy, or even science fiction. Some may not have a big focus on a love triangle; they may be more of a horror drama. Regardless, the eye-catching scenes and well-developed plots have drawn more and more people in over the years, including many ND students.
Some popular dramas between all four classes at ND are “Goblin,” “True Beauty,” and “Crash Landing on You.” These are just a few of the many K-dramas that are available to fans. Some dramas may only be available on certain platforms, such as Netflix Originals or Viki-exclusives. However, some dramas, only available on Viki, have joined the drama list on Netflix, one of the most popular being “Hotel Del Luna.” To some students, watching K-dramas is one of their favorite hobbies, with about 35% of the participants watching K-dramas a few times a week or even every day. Others may watch on occasion, whether it be winding down after a long day or when a new, rising K-drama is released.
K-dramas tend to become more popular based on the viewership and rating, as a reputation is what entices a viewer to watch. One of the most popular K-dramas at the moment is “Squid Game.” Over 80% of the ND students who responded have watched “Squid Game” since its release, and those who haven’t intend to watch it soon. “Squid Game” is an action and thriller K-drama that follows the main character, Gihun, through a deadly series of children’s games for a large cash prize of 45.6 billion won ($38.6 million). The psychological aspects and well-filmed scenes have helped viewings skyrocket over the past few weeks, despite its recent release.
Some who have watched “Squid Game” may have never watched a K-drama before — or as fans like to say, “it reached the locals.” In an anonymous survey, one student, who doesn’t regularly watch K-dramas, rated Squid Game a 10/10, saying that “[i]t shows the harshness of capitalism and how people will do whatever it takes to get money.” Students like Kaito Sherry ‘23 and Jessica Visaya ‘23 liked the horror or gore of the show. Other students liked the actors and the characters of the show, a common answer being Hoyeon Jung as Sae-byeok or “067.” The numbers symbolize the idea that they are in a game, and because it’s a game of death, it dehumanizes them to simply numbers. The “unexpected turns” and other thought-provoking aspects of the drama left another student “on the edge of [their] seat.” Even those who have not finished the drama, such as Sherry ‘23, say that they are very “excited for the plot twists in future episodes.”
The endless praise the show has received has compelled all kinds of people to watch “Squid Game,” and its reputation is living up to its name. Teachers and students alike love the game, even asking “If you had to play a children’s game and win for a lot of money but you might die, what game would you pick?” as an ice breaker question! The rise of K-dramas, especially “Squid Game,” is bringing potentially binge-worthy shows to conversations all around you and across the globe. If you’re interested, it’s only a matter of time before you catch a snippet of a conversation that gives away the season. If you can handle psychological thrillers and gore, give “Squid Game” a try before your friends catch on and spoil it for you!
