Let’s be honest—each one of us who watched Squid Game, one of the most popular Netflix series of all time already since its launched last month, have said one thing to ourselves during each game—hey, I could do that.
Think you’re up to the challenge? Today, the UAE’s Korean Culture Centre, an offshoot of the Korean Embassy in Abu Dhabi, will be holding an official Squid Game for two groups of 15 pre-selected participants.
It will be as official as it gets. Each player will be in the uniform from the show, complete with Squid Game logos, and all staff will be wearing the circle, triangle and square costumes that have already become iconic.
“The games seemed a bit brutal in the series to maximise the dramatic element, however, actually all the games in the series are popular games played by Korean children from the past to the present. KCC would like the people in the UAE to learn more about Korean culture by participating in the event,” said a statement from the Korean Cultural Centre.
Just to be clear—this will not have the same stakes as the TV show. No one is going to die. In the games—Green light, red light, glass stepping stones, the dalgona game, marbles and ttakji, which will each be played for five rounds, it will just be a normal game. Rest easy.
“Regardless of the tournament, the eliminated players can participate in and watch the game separately without returning home,” continued the statement.
“Amid the global popularity of Squid Game, we have prepared this event to experience Korean play culture with many people in the United Arab Emirates,” said Nam Chan-woo, director of Korean Cultural Centre, told The National.
“Just as K-pop has gained its worldwide popularity through YouTube in the 2010s, I think Netflix will be a channel for the global spread of Korean video content such as dramas and movies.”
Here are each of the games:
1. Green light, red light
“The game is a very popular childhood game in Korea. Personally, I played it a lot during my childhood with my school friends and playmates in my neighbourhood. In Korean we say, ‘The roses of Sharon have blossomed,’ instead of Green Light and Red Light. The person whose movement is detected is eliminated,” says Nam.
Each player will be shot with Nerf-style guns, instead of real ones.
2) Glass Stepping Stones
This one will “run exactly the same as in the Squid Game series,” according to the Korean Cultural Centre.
3) The Dalgona Game
“After school on your way back home, you would see dalgona makers in front of your school. Korean children paid AED 1 or AED 2 10 to 20 years ago, so maybe AED 5 to AED 10 now, for one dalgona game. They all gathered together with their friends and try to take out the shapes marked. If you get the shape without any breaks, you get one more for free,” said Nam.
4) Marbles
“Two players will be paired to play a game with marbles, and those who exhaust all the beads will be eliminated. However, KCC will do even or odd game with the marbles. This is also a very common childhood game among Koreans,” said Nam.
5) Ttakji
“This is a traditional Korean game; we play ttakji with friends and family during the holidays, such as New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving. Koreans use old calendars to make them because they are usually hard enough to make a durable ttakji,” said Nam.
