Youngkyu Park/Netflix
The Korean drama Squid Game is a worldwide sensation. According to Netflix, it’s topped their rankings in more than 90 countries. Written and directed by the filmmaker Hwang Dong-Hyuk, it’s a violent and artful horror miniseries, a survival drama, and a commentary on debt and capitalism. With a plot that’s both simple and ambitious, the series is fast-paced but character-driven, and unbelievably addictive to watch.
This episode is hosted by Stephen Thompson, with guests Amil Niazi and Jae-Ha Kim.
The audio was produced by Mike Katzif and edited by Jessica Reedy. (NPR has uploaded a transcript of this conversation here.)
© 2021 JAE-HA KIM | All Rights Reserved
EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT:
Substack: K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim
K-drama Adoption Storylines Are Making Positive Strides, But There’s More Work to Do
“Money Heist: Korea” Reimagines Netflix’s Hit Series as a K-Drama — and It Works
The Best K-dramas on Netflix
“Squid Game” Is a Social Allegory Informed by Korean History
Korean Dramas (Index)
Yay! I was so happy to be a part of this podcast and get the opportunity to share my thoughts about the subtitles, Ep.7 and more! Squinting face with tongue #SquidGame Squid
Talked about #SquidGame w/ @idislikestephen & @amil on @pchh. Things I mentioned: Why the open-ended ending was reflective of K-Dramas, the subtitles and, um, Snidely Whiplash. Hope you enjoy it!
Jae! I will admit I’m not a fan of the series and didn’t really see the point of it beyond shock value. That said I really enjoyed the podcast. I hope to hear you on more of these.
loved this Podcast Jae! everyone on there was so fun and knowledgeable. As a fellow Korean American, you hit all the right marks about language, subtitles, the awful white actors. I also hate it when people dismiss Korean dramas as soap operas so thank you for setting that straight too for all the non watchers who were resistant!
Ms. Kim, did you see this? It’s always the worst when Korean women have to try to take other Korean women down. smh
“I just wanted to write and make it clear that calling a love interest “Op-pa” is NOT a new thing: something that has been around forever. I would really make that adjustment or edit to this episode if you can because that just isn’t true.”
“Also, it’s also not accurate that most K-Dramas are only 16 episodes. Some go on for 100’s. I’d really fact check your guests if they are to be the expert. Same is true for her interpretation of white actors in Korean shows. No, that is also not universally true. Eek. I’ve never had such an issue with the accuracy of a podcast! Also I think the VIPs were acted as they should have been.. the fact that they were masked is to show they are very impersonal, caricature characters seemed very intentional. I also didn’t think the scene was homophobic? It just had a gay character and probably a non-gay character? How was that homophobic? …. “
She can “eek” all she wants but that Diana woman is still an idiot. This is what Jae said on the podcast: ” I actually do not like Netflix’s system with Korean dramas of drawing it out into more than one season. I mean, they did it with “Love Alarm,” “My First First Love.” And it’s irritating to me, actually, because one of the beauties of Korean dramas is that it’s one and done after 16 episodes or however many that they want to do, but it’s usually 16 episodes.”
Jae never said it was ONLY 16 episodes. The point was that like many of us Kdrama fans, we don’t like multi seasons. Diana sounds like a jealous hater who gets off on nitpicking.
Is she for real? How was the scene homophobic? She said that with her whole chest from a hetero perspective. The scene was incredibly homophobic showing a gay man forcing himself on another man. It doesn’t matter if his victim is gay or not. Depicting a gay man as a perverted potential rapist IS homophobic and plays into the whole trope of gay men being perverts!
May I ask who said this?
It’s on NPR’s facebook page in the comments. https://www.facebook.com/pchh/posts/4761454293865999
WOW that is outrageous. This Diana obviously thinks she is the be all end all when it comes to other people’s Korean experiences. must be nice to be her. /s
For a woman who is married to some white dude and took his last name, which everyone knows that Korean women don’t do, Diana has lot of opinions on Korean authenticity. lol Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but she took some cheap shots over HER own ability to comprehend what was said. The white actors in K-dramas are universally horrible. Saying so isn’t racist or incorrect. It’s a subjective opinion, which is what critics offer. I am not a critic but I am an avid K-drama watcher and have yet to see one white actor appear who is actually good. It’s South Korea entertainment industry’s issue to deal with, not Ms. Kim’s duty to gloss over.
I don’t mean to insult Jae but after looking at Diana’s profile, it seems she’s maybe late 30s or early 40s and I know Jae is older than that. Jae mentioned on the podcast that language and slang change, so what she knew growing up is probably different than what Diana heard. FYI I am 55 and came to the U.S. when I was 16. No one I knew called their romantic partners oppa. Makes me cringe to think about it. I’m not saying Jae is as old as me, but she may have had a similar upbringing.
Calling a partner OPPA has NOT been around forever. 47 here. We don’t call anyone other than older male relatives oppa. I never called my boyfriends or husband oppa and never will. Apparently Diana views her own experiences as the only way to be Korean. It’s so disappointing to read comments like hers. Also, is she a historian? Why does she think her experiences are the only truth?
Does anyone know what era it became ok to use oppa for guys who aren’t family members? I mean in a romantic sense. Personally I found the podcast fascinating. I’m not Korean and didn’t feel I missed out not understanding Korean. I’m looking forward to season two of Squid Game!
Steph, thanks for sharing this link. I just finished listening to the podcast and had no issue with it at all. Some people are just drama queens who want to stir up trouble where there is none. This woman reminds me of that other half Korean woman who say the subtitles were horrible and only Korean speakers would enjoy the series. Girl what?!
Love your work, Jae! Keep up the great work and don’t let haters like this deter you.
As an adoptee, I’ve come across a lot of women like Diana who think they know more than everyone else. I used to believe them and doubt myself until I realized that what they are stating as facts are opinions. And opinions are like assh0les. Everyone has one.
First of all, why is that supposed Korean woman spelling oppa as Op-pa? lol I’m not sure what her problem is. She’s making “clear” something that Jae was very clear about. Jae literally said that SHE never called a date oppa because it’s gross to HER. Jae also said that the use of words change over time. No where did she say that oppa used in the cringey context was a new phenomenon.