Everyone with a Netflix login – and let’s be honest even those without – has probably heard of the increasingly popular Korean show, Squid Game, wherein desperate citizens are gathered to compete in a series of games for cash prizes with deadly consequences. And with the recent release of the show’s highly anticipated second season, its popularity in South Korea and abroad is only increasing.
In this blog, we’ll break down each of the traditional Korean children’s games used in the series without spoiling too much of the show’s latest twists & turns.
- Ddakji
- Rock, Paper, Scissors Minus One
- Red Light, Green Light
- Flying Stone
- Gong-gi
- Spinning Top
- Jegi
- Mingle
1. Ddakji
Korean Name: 딱지 [ddakji]
Scene: One of the series’ most iconic games, ddakji appears as a recruitment game in both seasons 1 & 2, as well as in the track & field style relay race during the games in season 2.
Rules: Traditionally players of ddakji would create their own folded paper to play with ensuring their square is compact with crisp, sharp edges. However, the game is now often played with premade squares in red and blue, with a distinct flat and slightly curved side thanks to the folding method. The objective of the game is to flip your opponent’s tile placed on the ground in front of you, simply by throwing your own tile at it.
2. Rock, Paper, Scissors Minus One
Korean Name: 가위 바위 보 [gawi, bawi, bo]
Scene: After tracking down the Recruiter, the two gang members are forced to play this game by the Recruiter.
Rules: Very similar to the Western version of the game, Rock Paper Scissors, this game is played with two players following the Paper beats Rock, Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beats Paper flow. Unlike what you might’ve played growing up, this game adds an additional step by having players throw out both hands and then remove one hand of their choice. This addition actually turns statistics in the favor of the players in this case, with the possibility of ending the round in a draw almost always available. However, the speed at which the Recruiter forces them to play inevitably allows for mistakes.
3. Red Light, Green Light
Korean Name: 무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다 [Mugunghwa kkochi pieotseumnida]
Scene: The Korean version of red light, green light is played as round one of the squid games in both season 1 and season 2.
Rules: Although overall very similar to the western game red light, green light, the Korean version includes some distinct differences. The biggest difference is instead of saying red light for stop and green light to go, in the Korean version the referee player says the phrase “Mugunghwa kkochi pieotseumnida~”, which translates to “the mugunghwa (hibiscus) flower has bloomed.”
This player must face away from the group, typically using a tree or wall to ensure no peeking, and say this full phrase before they can turn around. This ensures seeker players have at least a minimum time to move before the referee player turns back around. Any players caught moving by the calling player must immediately leave the seeker team and join hands with the referee, eventually creating a chain. The first seeker player to reach and touch the referee player without getting caught moving is deemed the ‘winner’ however this will trigger the referee team to turn and try to catch all other remaining seekers.
4. Flying Stone
Korean Name: 비석치기 [Biseokchigi]
Scene: A simplified version of the flying stone game appears as the second task in the season 2 relay race.
Rules: The flying stone game or biseokchigi in Korean, is most similar in concept to the modern Western game cornhole. In this game, opposing teams stack a tower of flat rocks approximately 3~4 meters apart from each other, and take turns throwing rocks to knock over the enemy tower. Traditionally, each successful round increases the throw difficulty, culminating in standing on one foot and throwing.
More of a visual learner? Check out these tutorials for the relay mini-games:
5. Gong-gi
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Korean Name: 공기 [gonggi]
Scene: Gong-gi is played as the third game required in the six-legged relay.
Rules: Gong-gi is played using 5 small stones or metal jacks that you must catch through 5 different levels. At the beginning of levels 1-4, you will throw a handful of stones onto a flat surface and collect them in a specific pattern. In the first round, you collect stones one by one. Next, you collect them in pairs and so on until you collect four at once. In the following stage, you must throw all the stones up and catch them on the back of your hand. And finally, in the last round, you must catch all the stones back into the hand they are resting on.
The biggest difference from the Squid Game adaptation is that typically each successful catch in a round earns you a set amount of points. If one stone falls or you are unable to pick it up, it simply stops counting towards the score and you must continue through the levels without it.
6. Spinning Top
Korean Name: 팽이 돌리기 [Paengi Dolligi]
Scene: Spinning top is the second to last mini-game in the six-legged relay.
Rules: Spinning top has been played throughout Korean history, dating back as early as 720 AD. First, you must wind the rope tightly around the top. Then you throw it while pulling the string to create a spin. Traditionally, players even used a long stick to tap the top and encourage its rotation. The game is usually played with multiple opponents and the winner is whoever’s top continues spinning the longest.
7. Jegi
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Korean Name: 제기차기 [jegichagi]
Scene: Jegi is played as the final obstacle in the relay race in season 2 of Squid Games.
Rules: Jegichagi is almost identical to the Western game hacky-sack. The objective of jegichagi is to keep the jegi airborne by kicking it with your feet. The winner has the highest number of consecutive kicks before the jegi touches the ground. Jegis were traditionally made by wrapping paper or cloth around a coin or piece of iron. Jegis have since been adapted into many styles and often look like shuttlecocks. However, they remain very different in both weight and form from their western cousin the hacky-sack.
8. Mingle
Korean Name: 둥글게 둥글게 [Dunggulge dunggulge]
Scene: Renamed ‘Mingle’ and slightly adapted for the Squid Games, dunggulge dunggulge is played as the 3rd game in Squid Game season 2.
Rules: Much like ‘Ring Around the Rosie’, dunggulge dunggulge is a song-based children’s game with no clear winner. Instead, children hold hands in a circle and dance according to the lyrics. The show’s ‘Mingle’ uses the traditional dunggulge dungglege song and spinning elements. However, they also added musical-chair-type rules to create a win condition.
Check out these other K-drama blogs & tours:
- 9 Trending K-drama Filming Locations Across Korea
- MBC Drama Studio 1 Day Tour (+ Drama Rehearsal Visit option)
- Pohang K-Drama Tour from Seoul
- Pohang K-Drama Private Tour from Busan/Daegu
- Danyang 1 Day Tour: Guinsa Temple & Baeron Holy Ground/ Ondal Film Set – from Seoul
And discover even more of the latest Hallyu events & tours on Trazy.com!
But there’s more to South Korea than K-drama & traditional games! Discover South Korea for yourself with Trazy.com, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop.
[Photo Credit]
- Netflix Official YouTube