Following K-pop, K-drama, and K-food, a new ‘K-play’ is shaking up the world. This is thanks to ‘Squid Game’, which is considered the most successful series in the world. When Season 1 was released, it aroused the curiosity of viewers around the world with games like Mugunghwa Flower Has Blossomed, Ttakchi Chigi, and Dalgona, and since the release of Season 2, ‘Video Evidence’ that shows people playing air games, round and round, etc. have been a hot topic online.

Amidst interest in which K-plays will contribute to the global syndrome in Season 3, which will be released in June, we have compiled a list of K-plays that are strongly recommended for Season 3 or subsequent seasons that may continue. This year‘s Lunar New Year holiday is longer than ever, so why not enjoy some K-games that spread across the world with your family or friends?
O’s universal ‘Hide and Seek’… ‘Hide tight! I can see your hair!’

‘Hide and Seek’, where everyone except the tagger hides and the tagger finds them, is a game enjoyed in its own way not only in Korea but also in the United States (Hide and Seek) and Japan (Kakurenbo) around the world. However, only our tagger shouts “Hide tight! The song “Hair Boiler” is highly likely to become popular as a representative “play song” of K-play, following “The Rose of Sharon Has Blossomed” and “Round and Round”, so we recommend it.

The best part of “Hide and Seek” is the incredible thrill and suspense you feel when the seeker approaches a place where your body is appropriately hidden. The contrast between the participants hiding all over the colorful set full of childlike innocence, which is the signature of the “Squid Game”, and the crazy eyes of the seeker trying to find them is also anticipated.
An unexpected brain game... “Siltteugi” that requires a keen eye

It is a game where two people have to make various shapes by passing a loop-shaped thread. Season 2 ‘Air Fever’ has global viewers going through a lot to obtain the unfamiliar Gong-dol, but thread-threading is easy to obtain in any household around the world and requires only a single thread.
Memory is essential as you have to memorize the order and hand shapes by continuously changing the thread shapes according to a set order.

In particular, it is a game mainly enjoyed by girls, and it seems that it could be a differentiating point that can showcase the activities of female characters in ‘Squid Game’, which has many games that require relatively weak power for female participants.
Offensive team vs. defensive team… ‘Pile-driving’ for team battles

‘Pile-driving’ is a game exclusive to ‘team battles where the defensive and offensive teams compete against each other. I dare say that I can pull off a more dynamic and powerful scene than the tug-of-war that was the representative team match in Season 1.

The defending team, except for one representative who will play rock-paper-scissors, bends down with their heads between each other‘s legs, and the attacking team quickly runs and climbs on top of the defending team’s back. The attacking team representative and the rock-paper-scissors representative decide the winner with rock-paper-scissors. The game is also decided if the defending team collapses before the rock-paper-scissors decides the winner or if the attacking team fails to properly climb on top of the defending team. Since it is a game where you have to knock them over and hold on, unlike Siltteegi, teams with more male participants who are strong and weigh a lot have the advantage.
The importance of being aware of things and strategy… ‘Towel Spinning’

Contestants sitting in a circle and singing a song. The tagger who circles behind one person drops the towel he was holding at the right time, and that person gets up and runs to catch the tagger. The tagger must run a circle and sit in an empty spot before being caught. If he is caught, the tagger is out, and if he does not notice the towel that fell behind him, the person who received the towel is out.

In addition to running skills, you need to be quick-witted and have an uncanny knack for spotting suspicious signs. Above all, it can be an unexpectedly strategic game because contestants can put their heads together in advance and focus their attacks on one person they want to eliminate. Be careful, as people who look unpleasant or clueless may be the ones who are focused on attacking.
O The right balance of strength and skill… Final Big Match ‘Chickenfighting’

I recommend ‘Chickenfighting’ for the 1-on-1 big match in the final. You don‘t need any tools or equipment. All you need is your body and a strong mind. It’s a game where you win by jumping around with one foot on the other knee and charging at your opponent to knock them over. Anyone who gives up their legs or trips and falls over is also considered a loser.

The fun of cockfighting is that you can come up with various winning strategies by emphasizing your strengths, such as speed, stamina, agility, and making your opponent angry(?), rather than just pushing through with ‘simple power’. Hollywood star Jack Black, who visited Korea in the past, appeared on the MBC entertainment show ‘Infinite Challenge’ and experienced the spicy taste of cockfighting. After that, he said, “Koreans know how to have fun”. Now, it is time to show the world once again that Koreans know how to have fun with the ‘Squid Game’ version of cockfighting.


Reporter Seungmi Lee smlee@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.