South Korea

It was inevitable that Squid Game would be aggressively commodified | Arwa Mahdawi

The hit show has attracted global attention – not least from a North Korean propaganda website – for its takedown of capitalism. But the streaming service has wasted no time in commodifying the show’s success, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Arwa Mahdawi

20, Oct, 2021 @6:00 AM

North Korea has fired ballistic missile into sea, says South

Launch, possibly from a submarine, comes as US, South Korean and Japanese spy chiefs meet for talks in Seoul

Staff and agencies

19, Oct, 2021 @5:34 AM

The Bacchus Lady review – Youn Yuh-jung leads tale of life on the margins in Seoul

The Oscar winner is a compelling lead in an unconventional drama about an ageing prostitute in the Korean capital

Phil Hoad

18, Oct, 2021 @1:00 PM

Lost in translation? The one-inch truth about Netflix’s subtitle problem

Subtitling is an essential art form. So why, as the streaming giant scores more global hits with shows like Squid Game and Call My Agent, isn’t it trying harder to find the right words?

Viv Groskop

14, Oct, 2021 @12:31 PM

K-boom! How the unstoppable stars of K-pop went gunning for the art world

First came K-cinema, then K-pop and K-TV. Now South Korea’s young stars are conquering the world with K-art. But what do their dark visions say about their nation’s psyche – and ours?

Stuart Jeffries

13, Oct, 2021 @5:00 AM

Japan’s island-shaped curry inflames tensions with Korean neighbours

Restaurant plants Japanese flag in seafood dish moulded in shape of islands that are also claimed by South Korea

Justin McCurry in Tokyo

12, Oct, 2021 @4:56 AM

Squid Game’s success reopens who pays debate over rising internet traffic

Demand for capacity grows on back of hit Netflix shows, online games and more

Mark Sweney

10, Oct, 2021 @1:44 PM

You’ve seen the gory Squid Game TV show? Now buy the tracksuit…

The hit South Korean Netflix show, likely to become the most-watched TV series ever, is setting trends around the globe

Edward Helmore

10, Oct, 2021 @6:45 AM

Squid Game owes its popularity to anxieties of modern life

It’s the first South Korean drama to top the US Netflix charts and its core message is ‘can I ever repay this debt?’

Zoe Williams

09, Oct, 2021 @6:00 AM

Squid Game lays bare South Korea’s real-life personal debt crisis

Household debt is now equivalent to over 100% of GDP and has gone hand in hand with a dramatically widening income gap

Nemo Kim in Seoul and Justin McCurry in Tokyo

08, Oct, 2021 @11:06 AM

Netflix edits Squid Game phone number after woman deluged with calls

Popular drama’s use of real South Korean number leads to thousands of prank calls and texts

Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent

07, Oct, 2021 @11:39 AM

K-beauty, hallyu and mukbang: dozens of Korean words added to Oxford English Dictionary

New additions highlight Korean culture wave as interest in the country’s food, fashion and entertainment spreads