For over 20 years, Korean dramas have increased in popularity with international audiences. Its fame began in nearby countries and then spread to the U.S. through various platforms. Korean dramas have conventional wisdom and cover a variety of social issues that made them hit. Squid Game could never have the opportunity to become a hit if Netflix has not emphasized its concept and themes. Squid Game’s success reached globally as it portrays different cultures. For instance, the series has brought tracksuits back into fashion, pushing sales of Vans Slip-Ons up 7,800 percent, while inspiring internet memes and Halloween costumes. Squid Games, dystopian series reflects the oppression and sad reality of South Korean society. The scenes and content appear to be real where characters who want to get out of debt play children’s games with deadly consequences for the losers. The series has drawn an international audience and despite its adult themes and violent nature, it’s been a hit with all ages.
K-dramas reflect worldwide social stresses that resonate with any society. As the wealth gap between the rich and poor continues to widen, other inequalities have risen.
According to Netflix, Squid Game has become the most successful example of its strategy for developing local content to build its subscription service in foreign domestic markets, then use that content to build demand for its service in markets around the world. Today, Squid Game has reached the charts on Netflix, it is also the note worthiest show across other streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Apple TV+. More fans are found on media sights.
Squid Games themes
The content of Squid Games has won the trust of the global audience as they discovered the Squid Game stories unique from other plays. The stories of Squid Game don’t need to be told in English to get hit in English-speaking countries due to its exceptional stories and themes, tone, action, and high-quality production. The plot mingles satire and melodrama, using its themes of social inequalities and atrocities in real life. The characters navigate the impact of capitalism on modern society. The drama has created vibrant cultural scenes describing people fighting to survive while facing social injustice. The stereotypes scenes showing social injustice — class divisions and financial inequality, or even gender-related issues proved to be a game-changer since these social problems exist around the whole world. Millions of people are struggling with them. These elements made the show resonate strongly outside of Korea, reaching global audiences.
Anti-capitalist themes in the play refer to an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition in life. All the players come from similar backgrounds: financially challenged and facing extreme debt. When they are allowed to make a fortune by playing children’s games, they are hopeful to improve their conditions. The drama shows that a capitalist society does not solely focus on profit but also looks after the well-being of its workers.
A fan states, “You know the show is a masterpiece when you binge-watch uncontrollably.”
With its increasing popularity. Squid Game has become a global phenomenon. It has become a part of an increasing global engagement with Asian popular and commercial culture, mediated through the dominant non-Asian distribution channels. The “pop” part of K-pop has American pop musical influences such as dance-pop, rap, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, techno, and rock. K-pop (Korean popular music), blends multiple music styles with slick choreography. The unique Korean infectious melodies are sung mostly in Korean, and a few English words strategically placed in the song create sensational music. Beautiful fashion and curated makeup, pastel dyed hair, and feminine associated clothes of Korean singers have impressed a large number of western fans.
One of the rising UK pop music artists, Alayi MacPepple – Jaja professionally known as Morph got the idea to create his Rap music album based on the sequence of six sadistic survival games. He flipped the Squid Game themes into a spine-chilling mid-tempo rattletrap that created unique music.
Morph is a rapper and songwriter who is recognized to encapsulate audiences both across the globe and in his native London. Making his musical debut as an artist in the hip hop and rap genre in the year 2020, this British rapper has pioneered the local hip-hop scene with his talent, skill, and creativity. The rapper is highly inspired by the story of the old man that shows how social inequalities and ill health affect real life.
The story of Old Man Who Always Wanted Gi-hun To Win portrays the old man as a kind-hearted man dying from a brain tumor. As Morph was inspired by the old man’s character, he based his musical Track, ‘Beggars Can’t Be Choosers Remix on the story of this character. The Morph concept of the old man represents him as a mastermind character, wearing the squid game tracksuit.
Through his musical track, Beggars Can’t Be Choosers Remix, he aims at creating inspiring and entertaining music for those who are fighting illness or suffering from pain and misery. To fill their lives with hope and optimism and to alleviate boredom, agony, and distress from their lives. Moreover, Morphy’s musical track has helped to reduce racism within the mainstream. The people of color have overcome racism with the help of listening to the popular music scene in the UK.
Through his music, Morphy has blended K POP culture and UK pop by building new transnational cultural connections with the world. As KPOP has now become a global phenomenon, it condemns racism and even educates the people around them. Through their exposure to social media and multinational organizations, they have voiced the plight of black people. Famous K-pop music groups have used pop music to spread love and positive vibes. It has become a whole immersion in a new language and culture. It is the incentive of feeling closer to the people that make the music they enjoy. Consequently. Morph inspired by K POP Culture has also negated the concept of racism and even educate the people around them. Moreover, he has used pop music to spread love and positive vibes. With his aesthetic and appealing music, he has connected people through a shared love of music and cultural diversity. His fans are connecting to messages of love, compassion, peace, and social consciousness.
