DEATH PUNK 333 (The Game) Life can be a lethal game. “Do you know what people with no money have in common with people with too much money? That living isn’t fun.” The very rich and the very poor can all have the same inability to care about what’s next. So we are going to play the game to win but at what cost? Squid Game contrasts the innocence of the games of childhood with the cold, hard reality of both life and the consequences of losing - death. So is the Squid Game an allegory of Korea’s experience of climbing the ladder of economic development? When compared to the exploitation and deaths from economic development and capitalism, the Squid Game is almost tame and that while the loss of life in the Squid Game is violently confrontational, it is subtle in comparison with the loss of life in the ‘real-world Squid Game of globalization.’ [1]. Korea has been a winner in this game but at what cost? The Squid Game can be hard to watch but is it more violent and brutal than real life? Perhaps the Squid Game is less confrontational if compared to the games of capitalism and globalization - the economic competition between nation states and individuals, and the effect this game has on its citizens. South Korea has been a winner in terms of the economic development game but sacrifices have been made to win in the game of globalization: the socioeconomic divide it has created, the Intense competition and lifestyle leading to kwarosa, and a feeling of hopelessness for sections of the population. The Squid Game does seem to be commentary on the success of Korea under globalization - a winner. The socioeconomic problems that has presented - the cost, the casualties of the game. The Squid Game could also be commentary on capitalism and the emptiness of success - money. Yet despite that emptiness of money, the contestants’ desire it so much they are willing to die for it. Or is it they are not there for the money and more for the opportunity to feel hope again despite the odds of almost certain death? But we all chase the emptiness of ‘success’ and money in some way and are at least willing to give away a lot of our life in the pursuit of this and the things that we are somewhat conditioned to desire or feel we need. Capitalism requires winners and losers. It creates inequality all the while being underpinned with a belief in equality and meritocracy. We can all climb this ladder if we perform - get smart and work hard enough. This belief keeps us working but more importantly, gives us hope. For some Koreans the fraud of meritocracy has been exposed, there is no hope and there is also an acceptance of what is to come, a fatalistic resignation to death that is not to be avoided but rather accepted. The socioeconomic situation in Korea is where, for many, there is nothing left not even hope - only crippling debt. If you travel and meet Korean expats and ask them what they are doing they might tell you ‘there is nothing in Korea for me, for anyone.’ Hell Chosun where dreams and effort are unrewarded and futile. Household debt is over 100 per cent of Korea’s GDP, Korea has the highest suicide rate and the lowest fertility rate in the world. For those who do work, there’s an opportunity to die from overwork - kwarosa. ******* [1] Denny, S. 2015. Is South Korea Now ‘Hell Chosun’?, The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2015/09/is-south-korea-now-hell-chosun/ https://www.vox.com/22704474/squid-game-games-korean-references-symbols https://fpif.org/the-real-meaning-of-squid-game/ Feffer, J. 2021. The Real Meaning of Squid Game. Foreign Policy in Focus. https://fpif.org/the-real-meaning-of-squid-game/ ***** Contact CryptoChild: Twitter @xCryptoChild https://linktr.ee/CryptoChild DEATH PUNK: https://linktr.ee/deathpunk
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