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A website known as Arirang Meari ran an article claiming that “Squid Game” was a symbol of life in South Korea, “where the number of losers in fierce competition like jobs, real estate and the shares increase dramatically “. (Youngkyu Park / Netflix via AP)
(NEXSTAR) – Netflix is ​​currently not available in North Korea, but that hasn’t stopped one of the country’s propaganda sites from renting “Squid Game.”
Earlier this week, a website known as Arirang Meari published an article briefly describing the plot of Netflix’s brutal show, which is about a group of South Korean residents who take part in a series of games for children for the chance to get rid of crippling debt. Those who lose the games, however, are killed.
The website article, which does not have a credited author, goes on to say that the South Korean-produced series has become popular because it “exposes the reality of South Korean society” where “the corruption is on the rise and scoundrels are rife â€.
“It is said that the reason the ‘Squid Game’ television series has become popular with viewers is that it has dug into the reality of capitalist society and South Korea, where extreme competition for survival and greed for the weak was rampant, â€Arirang Meari writes, per a website translation.
Arirang Meari’s article, published on Tuesday, further alleged that the show was symbolic of life in South Korea, “where the number of losers in fierce competition like jobs, real estate and stocks increases. considerably “.
The author or authors of Arirang Meari’s article are not disclosing whether they have seen “Squid Game,” instead citing anonymous South Korean movie critics with information about the show.
North Korea, meanwhile, last year imposed strict penalties on citizens caught watching foreign-produced media or using certain South Korean slang terms, threatening fines and penalties. prison in prison camps, Reuters reported in January, citing South Korean and Japanese media.
Although fictional, “Squid Game” addresses sensitive topics for many residents of South Korea, especially through its themes of inequality and money. Financial slowdowns over the past decades have left many citizens in debt – a problem compounded by the scarcity of job opportunities and rising prices.
Household debt in the country has also reached around $ 1.5 trillion, effectively exceeding South Korea’s GDP, the Associated Press reported.
Either way, “Squid Game” has become very popular in the United States and abroad. Wednesday, Netflix confirmed that the show was watched by more viewers in its first month (111 million) than any other series to debut on the platform.
