[Korean Culture & Language] Squid Game and Military




Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!

Conscription in Korea has existed since 1957, which requires male citizens to serve in the military for about 18 months. Even though they should be respected and treated well, many of them are treated poorly. Bullying, highly vertical culture, and low salaries have always been a big problem. Because of these problems, joining the military has always been a fear for Korean men. Even after they get discharged, they suffer from nightmares about going back to the military.

The meme below compares Korea’s military culture to Squid Game, Netflix’s most popular series launch ever:

Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama where 456 contestants, each deeply in debt, compete in a series of children’s games. They die if they lose, for the chance to win a ₩45.6 billion prize if they win. The table reads, “Do you get forced into it?,” “Do you get a chance to leave in the middle of it?,” “Do you get enough reward for it?,” “Do men and women join equally?,” “Do they tell you what you should do nicely and in detail?,” “Can you die from it?”. 

It is a ‘웃픈(sad but funny)’ comparison since both situations are miserable. The memer claims that the participants for Squid Game voluntarily join the Game, while Korean men are forced to join the military. The participants get a chance to leave in the middle of the Game, but soldiers don’t get the freedom to leave the military once they are conscripted. The Game provides a reasonable reward when it’s over, while the military doesn’t. Both men and women have equal chances to join the Game, but only men are forced to join the military. The ‘깐부’ instructs nicely and in detail on what the participants should do in Squid Game, while no one really explains what they should do in the military. There’s a risk of death in both situations.

This meme became popular because it’s funny and relatable to many Korean men. However, many also claim that this is only for fun since the mortality rate is incomparable. Both military culture and the movie Squid Game reflect Korean society well. Because many Koreans struggle from huge debts despite the fast-growing economy, they are ready to risk their lives for money. It wouldn’t be completely ridiculous for them to join such a horrifying game since many of them are already living close to the edge where they even commit suicide due to financial troubles.

I’ll explain more about Korea’s economic problems and the terms used in Squid Game in my next article.

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