Red Light Green Light

Squid Game was written by film director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, whose ideas for the show were inspired by Ssangyong Motor Company’s mass layoffs in 2009, that resulted in violent strikes and clashes with police. The protests were, “among the most fierce workers’ struggles South Korea has witnessed in almost two decades.” source.

This dystopian survival thriller examines economic disparity, extreme capitalism and social inequality. It highlights the gap between the rich and the poor. Desperate individuals with limited opportunities compete in the deadly children’s games for a huge cash prize that will change their lives dramatically as well as pay off their huge debts.

The rich and powerful had grown bored with their lives and seek a new thrill to entertain them.

꼬마 오징어 킬러

Oh II-Nam moulds a macabre plan for he and his bourgeoisie Vee — I — Pees. An unpalatable proposal. Their lust for life calcified by filthy wealth — apathy oozes from the residue of their riches. The pleasure to place bets on worthless bums; that’s what will work — that will suffice. A game, a sport, a thrill, a vice.

Oh II-Nam, charmed by his childhood games, Ddakji, Red and Green Light, Dalgona, Marbles, Glass Bridge, Tug of War, and Squid Game (in the rain). Yes, these will do, but let’s add some dark-crimson red bloodied hue.

Six games played over Six days, with 456 players; who will win the large lump of lush lolly? Each contender valued at 100 million ￦. Each of their deaths — adds to the plenteous pellucid porcine pot. A finale fortune of 45 dot 6 billion ￦, to the last soul standing man.

The Recruiter, Ddakji — 딱지치기

Oh Il-Nam recruits The Recruiter, to cajole clueless candidates. A game of Ddakji and ₩ to entice the down and out no-hopers, the gamblers & debtors, the vagabond bettors. Throw that tile and flip his over. A gold business card, a circle, triangle and square. A telephone number laid bare to snare.

Gi-hun makes the team. He is Player 456.

Oh II-Nam’s illness drags him closer to death’s mortal door, and so, to feel alive a little longer, he joins in — incognito. He is Player 001 — all the way to the marbles — Game Four: 구슬 게임, where he meets his phoney fake death.

Game One, Red Light, Green Light — 빨간불 초록불

A throng of figures cloned in hunter green garb, curiously tread the lip of the pitch. Captivation confuses the cowed crowd, the vast vibrant expanse, a wide-open arena; soundless anticipation percolates nostalgic frolics.

The silence is snapped by a crisp clear voice transcending from above. Her words reveal the rules of the game. Players are only permitted to move forward when the impressive doll — Young-hee — calls ‘Green light’ — Players must STOP, when she calls ‘Red light’.

Players will be eliminated for a miniscule micro movement. Will they live to see the next game? A cacophonous of screams ricochets a heist of hysteria, the shock of the shots crosses the player’s lot. Cold heartless killings done on the spot. The sonorous pops and darts of bullets — the Pink Guards aim their range — dripping rich, thick, red gory blood.

Gi-hun survives with the help of Sang-woo — his childhood friend.

Game Two, Dalgona — 달고나

Circles, Stars, Triangles and Umbrellas, cut these shapes out of svelte like sheets of sugar sweet honeycomb treats. BUT — only using a pin prick point of a needle. If the cookie crumbles and cracks the finest fragile figured picture, they will surely die!

Gi-hun is one of those survivors, along with Sang-woo

Game Three, Tug-of-War — 줄다리기 게임

The straggled posse file into tanks of ten, two teams go head-to-head, atop of two towering, tall, tall platforms. Pull the rope as hard for your life — but remember — brawn as well strength; tug together, drag your enemies off the top. A guillotine snaps and slices the rope — no chance to hang on for your dear puny life. Plunge all the way down to a dim, dark plight.

Gi-hun and Sang-woo survive

Game Four, Marbles — 구슬 게임

Marbles pits friend against friend, with a heart-wrenching end.

Instructed to partner up, they choose a closest ally, unaware of this cost. Duelled duos compete in the game of their choosing, each with ten marbles. The winner wins when he’s wheedled all score, the other — deathly whisked away.

There is no happy ending for Game four. Gi-hun is sad, his character humbles, as he hears the shot kill Oh II-Nam. He doesn’t know the sadistic truth — yet!

Gi-hun and Sang-woo survive their partners.

Game Five, Glass Bridge — 유리 다리

The glass bridge is a game of chance, which takes intelligence to crack its charismatic dance: tempered glass, or sheet glass? Faced with two identical parallel glass mats, the players are cognitively challenged; their only chance to survive is by their predecessor’s miserable mistakes — or fall to their own — ugly death.

Gi-hun, Sae-byeok, and Sang-woo survive the game and become the finalists. Sang-woo kills Sae-byeok. So, now they’re totalled to two).

Game Six, Squid Game — 오징어 게임

Player 218 verses Player 456

Gi-hun’s memories flood into his mind, back to when he and Sang-woo were childhood friends. Yet now both transported to this deadlier version of their time as childhood friends. This savage game, Gi-hun, choked by his own jacket, and stabbed in the stomach and hand — he retaliates by biting Sang-woo. Alas, Gi-hun has learnt so much, through all of these sadistic games, no longer selfish or a gambler, even after only six sadistic days — he has learned humbleness and a gratitude for life. He now desires fairness, even though he could easily win, so he stabs the space next to Sang-woo’s head, sparing his life.

So humbled, he prefers this better than winning the final round, and all the money that comes with it. He says, “Please end Squid Game and split the cash!” Sang-woo shouts NO, and stabs himself in the neck, allowing Gi-hun to win, despite Gi-hun’s humbleness.

The moral of the story

The divide between the upper and lower classes and how inescapable poverty can be. The ruthlessness of capitalism.

How easily it can be for people to be pushed to act against their conscience, even at the cost of others.

The dangers of greed.

The complicatedness of human nature and the moral dilemmas people face in the face of dilemmas.

The importance of values beyond material gain.

Human connection, and importance of, friendships, loyalty, camaraderie, and kindness

© Chantal Weiss 2025. All Rights Reserved